Prof Thomas Gordon FRSE (1714-1797) was a Scottish philosopher, mathematician and antiquarian. He was Professor of Humanity at

King's College, Aberdeen King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, the full title of which is The University and King's College of Aberdeen (''Collegium Regium Abredonense''), is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and now an integral part of the Universi ...

. He was a co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783.

Life

He was the son of Prof. George Gordon, Professor of Hebrew at King's College in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

. His grandfather, also George Gordon was Principal of the College in 1684. Thomas attended

University of Aberdeen , mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , established = , type = Public research universityAncient university , endowment = £58.4 million (2021) , budget ...

, graduating MA in 1731. He thereafter held various positions at the College from Regent to Professor of Greek and Philosophy. He was a member of the Aberdeen Philosophical Society from 1758 to 1773, and was one of the most active members of the Society, serving as secretary from 1761 - 1764 and again from 1767 - 1771. Here he debated with its founders Prof John Gregory, Prof Robert Trail and Dr David Skene, and other members such as Prof Alexander Gerard. He taught Robert Eden Scott (1770-1811) (later Prof R E Scott), his grandson, at the College. He died on 11 March 1797.

Family

His second daughter Margaret died in 1797. His daughter Anna married Rev. Andrew Brown (d.1805). His daughter Elizabeth was the mother of Robert Eden Scott.

References

1714 births 1797 deaths Founder Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 18th-century British philosophers 18th-century Scottish writers Academics of the University of Aberdeen Alumni of the University of Aberdeen People from Aberdeen Philosophers of mind Philosophers of religion Scottish essayists Scottish philosophers 18th-century essayists {{reli-philo-bio-stub