Gordon, William, Bishop of Aberdeen (1478 -1577)

William Gordon was the fourth son of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly, and Johanna Stewart, daughter of John Earl of Atholl. Educated at Aberdeen and Paris, he took orders and was Rector of Clatt in Aberdeenshire, and Chancellor of Moray. He was nominated Bishop of Aberdeen in 1545, and consecrated on the 17 May 1546. In 1558, the Dean and Chapter exhorted him to make a reformation “in special in removing ... the gentlewoman by whom he was greatly slandered ... without which done divers that are partners [in similar liaisons] say that they cannot accept correction of one who will not correct himself.” He seems to have taken no notice. Over fifty books from his library have survived.