The Earl of Sutherland | |
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Born | 1661 |
Died | 27 June 1733 Chelsea |
Other names | John Sutherland |
Wars and battles | Jacobite rebellion 1715 |
Predecessor | George Gordon, 15th Earl of Sutherland |
Successor | William Sutherland |
Spouse(s) | Helen Cochrane Katherine Tollemache Frances Hodgson |
Parents | George Gordon and Jean |
John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland KT PC (1661–1733) was a Scottish nobleman and army officer.
He was the only son of George Gordon, 15th Earl of Sutherland (1633–1703), and his wife, Jean Wemmyss.
Upon his father's death in 1703 he succeeded as earl of Sutherland. He supported the revolution of 1688 and was a commissioner for the union of England and Scotland. He was a Scottish representative peer in four parliaments, president of the Board of Trade and manufactures, and lord-lieutenant of the eight northern counties of Scotland. In 1703 he was appointed a privy councillor by Queen Anne.
He aided in putting down the Jacobite Rising of 1715. When the rebellion had been quashed, Gordon was invested by George I with the Order of the Thistle and was granted an annual pension of £1200 in recognition of his services. In 1719 he led his Regiment in the Battle of Glen Shiel, which brought to an end the third Jacobite rising.
He resumed the name of Sutherland, instead of Gordon. In 1719 by decree of Lyon Court, he was thereafter recognised Chief of the Clan Sutherland.
He married three times, first to Helen, daughter of Lord Cochrane; secondly to Katherine Tollemache, daughter of Sir Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Baronet; and thirdly to Frances Hodgson. He had two children with Helen: