William Gordon ( British Army officer ) General William Gordon ( 1736 – 25 May 1816 ) , of Fyvie , was a British general and courtier . He was several times returned to Parliament by the interest of the Duke of Marlborough , and precipitated a family quarrel with his nephew , the Duke of Gordon , by commandeering a regiment that the latter was raising . He was the son of William Gordon , 2nd Earl of Aberdeen and his third wife Lady Anne Gordon . Educated at Edinburgh University , he was commissioned a cornet in the 11th Regiment of Dragoons in 1756 . On 11 August 1759 , he was appointed to a captaincy in the newly raised 16th Regiment of ( Light ) Dragoons . Appointed a lieutenant - colonel in the 105th Regiment of Foot ( Queen ' s Own Royal Regiment of Highlanders ) on 11 October 1762 , he went on half - pay when that regiment was disbanded in 1763 . On his grand tour of Europe , he passed through Rome , where he was painted by Pompeo Batoni in 1765 – 66 , wearing the uniform of the 105th but with his tartan arranged like a toga . In 1767 , Gordon was returned as Member of Parliament for Woodstock , through the influence of his friend the Duke of Marlborough . He was re - elected in 1768 ; in 1774 , Marlborough put him in for Heytesbury instead . In Parliament , Gordon supported the Government , although his attendance was irregular . In 1775 , Marlborough obtained for him an appointment as Groom of the Bedchamber to King George III , whom he served until 1812 ; Gordon was returned again for Heytesbury at the ensuing by - election . In 1777 , Gordon became involved in a family quarrel with his nephew , Alexander Gordon , 4th Duke of Gordon . The Duke had offered to raise a new regiment for the King , with the intent of bestowing the colonelcy upon his brother , Lord William Gordon . King George objected , however , to Lord William , who had disgraced himself by eloping with and then abandoning Lady Sarah Bunbury . Gordon of Fyvie seized the opportunity to write to Lord Germain to request the colonelcy , assuring him of his nephew ' s support . He was breveted a colonel on 29 August 1777 and appointed colonel of the regiment on 19 December . However , the Duke discovered that Gordon of Fyvie had already chosen the officers of the regiment and written to them before he even knew if he would get the command ; and the appointments , he thought , were arranged so as to threaten his electoral influence in Aberdeenshire . Ultimately , the Duke prevailed upon the King to raise a Fencible regiment under his personal command , but the competition in recruiting that followed created a permanent breach between the Duke and Fyvie ' s branch of the family , including his brother Sandy . Gordon remained a consistent supporter of the Government when not absent with his regiment . During the Gordon Riots of 1780 , provoked by his nephew Lord George Gordon ( then also an MP ) , Gordon of Fyvie asked him if he meant to admit the mob to the House of Commons and threatened to run him through with his sword if he did . Marlborough did not put him up for Heytesbury in the 1780 election , and Gordon made no attempt to contest Aberdeenshire . He was promoted major general on 19 October 1781 . His regiment was disbanded in 1783 , and he again went on half - pay . Gordon was appointed colonel - commandant of the 4th Battalion of the 60th Regiment of Foot on 3 October 1787 , of the 7th Regiment of Foot ( Royal Fuzileers ) on 29 October 1788 , and to the 71st ( Highland ) Regiment of Foot on 19 April 1789 . Gordon was promoted lieutenant general on 12 October 1793 and general on 1 January 1798 . He was appointed to the colonelcy of the 21st Regiment of Foot on 6 August 1803 , which he commanded until his death . He lived at Martins Heron House at Winkfield in Berkshire . He married his housekeeper Isobel Black , by whom he had already had a son , William Gordon ( ? - 09 - Jan - 1847 ) .