Gordon General Patrick

Gordon, General Patrick, born in Aberdeenshire in 1635 and connected with the Earls of Aberdeen, was sent to Prussia to complete his education. Having run away from college, he enlisted in the Swedish service, and from 1655 to 1661 fought alternately on the side of the Swedes and their enemies the Poles. He then joined the Russian army, and in 1666 was sent by the Tsar Alexis on a mission to England. He rose rapidly through his zeal and abilities displayed in campaigns against Turks and Tartars, and was promoted by Peter the Great to the command of the forces by which the Tsarina Sophia was defeated, and ultimately to the command-in-chief of the empire. He died in 1699, leaving an interesting diary, portions of which have been recently published.