Duke Gordon
Encyclopedia
Duke Gordon was a Scottish librarian.
. He was educated at a school in the Cowgate
, under Andrew Waddel, translator of George Buchanan
's paraphrase of the Psalms. On 13 March 1753 he entered the Greek class in Edinburgh University under Robert Hunter, and became a good scholar.
During 1754 he was substitute teacher of the parish school of Tranent
, Haddingtonshire, returning to the university on 4 March 1755. After completing his course he was tutor in the families of Captain John Dalrymple, and of Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck. James Robertson, D.D., professor of oriental languages, on being made university librarian (12 January 1763), appointed Gordon his assistant. This office he retained under Andrew Dalzel, Robertson's successor. His salary till 1783 was £15, and never exceeded £35; he supported himself mainly by tuition.
According to his biographer, he was a patient, sensitive scholar, not without sarcastic humour. He detected three of the six errors in the ‘immaculate’ edition of the Latin poet Horace
of 1744 (see Robert Foulis
). On his retirement from duty he received (12 April 1800) the degree of M.A. He died unmarried on 30 December 1800, and was buried in St. Cuthbert's churchyard, where a monument to his memory bears a long Latin inscription by Dalzel. He left £500 to the Edinburgh Infirmary, and the reversion of house property of nearly the same value to the poor of St. Cuthbert's.
Life
Gordon was the son of William Gordon, a weaver in the Potterrow, Edinburgh, born on 20 May 1739. His father gave him his baptismal name from a clannish feeling for the Duke of GordonDuke of Gordon
The title Duke of Gordon has been created once in the Peerage of Scotland and again in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.The Dukedom, named after the Clan Gordon, was first created for the 4th Marquess of Huntly, who on 3 November 1684 was created Duke of Gordon, Marquess of Huntly, Earl of Huntly...
. He was educated at a school in the Cowgate
Cowgate
The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 5 minutes' walk from Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street's name is derived from the fact that cows were herded down it for Edinburgh's market days in previous centuries .The street is part of the lower...
, under Andrew Waddel, translator of George Buchanan
George Buchanan
George Buchanan may refer to:*George Buchanan , Scottish humanist*Sir George Buchanan , Scottish soldier during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms*Sir George Buchanan , Chief Medical Officer...
's paraphrase of the Psalms. On 13 March 1753 he entered the Greek class in Edinburgh University under Robert Hunter, and became a good scholar.
During 1754 he was substitute teacher of the parish school of Tranent
Tranent
Tranent is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to the A1 road and approximately east of Edinburgh. It is one of the oldest towns in East Lothian, and built on a gentle slope, about 300 feet above sea level.Population of the town is 9,917....
, Haddingtonshire, returning to the university on 4 March 1755. After completing his course he was tutor in the families of Captain John Dalrymple, and of Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck. James Robertson, D.D., professor of oriental languages, on being made university librarian (12 January 1763), appointed Gordon his assistant. This office he retained under Andrew Dalzel, Robertson's successor. His salary till 1783 was £15, and never exceeded £35; he supported himself mainly by tuition.
According to his biographer, he was a patient, sensitive scholar, not without sarcastic humour. He detected three of the six errors in the ‘immaculate’ edition of the Latin poet Horace
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
of 1744 (see Robert Foulis
Robert Foulis (printer)
Robert Foulis was a Scottish printer and publisher.-Biography:Robert Foulis was born the son of a maltman. He was apprenticed to a barber, but was encouraged to become a publisher by Francis Hutcheson who was impressed by his ability...
). On his retirement from duty he received (12 April 1800) the degree of M.A. He died unmarried on 30 December 1800, and was buried in St. Cuthbert's churchyard, where a monument to his memory bears a long Latin inscription by Dalzel. He left £500 to the Edinburgh Infirmary, and the reversion of house property of nearly the same value to the poor of St. Cuthbert's.