George Anderson Gordon (b1885)
George Anderson Gordon (Wikipedia) |
| Born: | November 19, 1885, Huntsville, Alabama |
| Died: | May 11, 1959, New York City |
| Son of: | Rev. Percy Gordon |
Notes:
• Son of Percy Gordon and Nancy Reed (French) Gordon. - UNC
• Married Alice Vandergrift July 7, 1930, in Dublin, Ireland and they had one daughter. - Ancestry.com 2
• George Anderson Gordon was born in Huntsville, Alabama on November 19, 1885. He graduated from Harvard University in 1906 and taught at St. Paul's School until 1909. In 1912 he received his law degree from Columbia University School of Law, and he became an attorney in New York City.
In 1916 Gordon joined the United States Army and served in the Pancho Villa Expedition. During World War I he was assigned as a Captain in France, and after the war he served on the staff that supported the U.S. commissioners who negotiated the Treaty of Versilles.
Gordon became a career foreign service employee in 1920, and served at embassies in Paris, Budapest, Berlin, and Rio de Janeiro. In 1930 he married Alice Vandergrift Garrett.
In 1935 he was appointed as Ambassador to Haiti, where he served until 1937.
In 1937 he became Ambassador to the Netherlands, serving until the Nazi invasion in 1940, after which he closed down the embassy and departed.
Upon returning to the United States Gordon spent the rest of World War II working on foreign policy issues at the State Department, including reorganization and formal re-recognition of Czechoslovakia following its occupation by the Nazis. He retired in 1945." - Wikipedia
• A diplomat in the American embassy had written: "A measure of Communism is perhaps inevitable in a country in which ignorant and poverty-stricken masses live in juxtaposition with an indolent and parasitical moneyed class. But in spite of the undisciplined character of the people it is difficult to believe that with their happy-go-lucky temperament they would be much inclined to accept communistic dogma." - Levine
• Mexican Punitive Campaign Muster Rolls for National Guard, June 30, 1916, Entered as a Private, Company C., Regiment Squadron A Cavalry. - Muster Roll
• From Abstract of WWI Military Service
Residence: 104 E. 40th St. New York, New York,
Born: Huntsville Ala Nov. 19/1885
Active service: 1 Lt Cav Aug 29/17 - fr ORC
Promotion: Capt FA Oct 18/18
Principal station: Plattsburg Bks NY
Wounds: None
Served overseas: Sept 5/17 to discharge
Hon. Discharge: Oct 13/19
Remarks: Awarded Silver Star for distinguished & exceptional Gallantry. - Abstract of WWI Military Service
• From a 1920 passport:
"I have resided outside the United States at the following places for the following periods:
Switzerland 1894-1898
France 1909-1013 (intervals)
So. America 1914-1915
France 1917-present (1920): "duty with Peace Commission" Paris, Hotel Crillon
Request to visit:
France
England, visiting relatives
Switzerland, visiting relatives - Passport 1920
• The centerpiece of the collection is William Washington Gordon (1796-1842) who lived in Savannah Georgia. Colonel George Anderson Gordon (b1830), the son of William Washington Gordon (1796-1842), seems to be the initial link to Huntsville. The Huntsville Gordons seem to have continued a strong connection with the Savannah Gordon's through correspondences, businesses, living arrangements, even burials for several generations. George Anderson Gordon (b1885) was a grandson of William Washington Gordon (1796-1842). - UNC
• While only a small part of the collection is digitized, the abstracts are a fascinating read and include many references to the Huntsville Gordons. - UNC
Related Links:
• Abstract of WWI Military Service - Digital photo copy of Abstract as viewed through an Ancestry.com paid subscription.
• Ancestry.com 1 - Paged owned by JulieGordon97 and can be viewed only with an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/50323818/person/26067260351.)
• Ancestry.com 2 - Page owned by davischarolais and can be viewed only with an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/3716088/person/1438536271.)
• Levine - Book titled "Father of the Poor?: Vargas and His Era" by Robert M. Levine quoted Gordon (page 42) with the following footnote: "George A. Gordon, U.S. Embassy, Rio De Janeiro, to Secretary of State, Report 730, July 11, 1935, 958, National Archives, Washington, D.C."
• Muster Roll - Digital photo copy of the Mexican Punitive Campaign Muster Rolls viewed through an Ancestry.com paid subscription.
• Passport 1920 - As viewed through an Ancestry.com paid subscription.
• Passport 1920 - Digital copy of 1920 Passport as viewed through an Ancestry.com paid subscription.
• UNC - Gordon Family Papers, 1810-1968 at Southern Historical Collection at the Louis Round Wilson Library at UNC.
• Wikipedia - Biography and Photo
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Rev. Percy Gordon