Bazil Gordon

Bazil Gordon emigrated from Scotland to America, settling in Falmouth, Virginia in 1786 where he opened a small store. Gordon grew his business, exporting large amounts of tobacco from plantations along the Rappahannock River to England. He is believed to be America's first millionaire.

He married [Anna Campbell Knox], daughter of William Knox and Susannah Stuart Fitzhugh. Susanna Fitzhugh was a great-granddaughter of Colonal William Fitz Hugh, who came from Bedford, England in 1670.

Life

In 1768, Bazil Gordon was born at Lochdougan, Kelton Parish, Scotland. He was the born to Samuel Gordon and Nicholas Brown, the daughter to John Brown; he was Samuel's youngest sons. In circa 1783, Gordon, along with two of his brothers: Samuel and Alexander; his nephew--whom was also called Samuel--immigrated to the "New World", America. Gordon and his kinsmen settled in Falmouth, Virginia where they opened a merchant's shop; they're main commodity they traded was tobacco. This enterprise quickly became an immense success, allowing them to take up more opportunities.

The brothers' fortunes were made in large by taking advantage of the War between England and Spain, where they purchased and exported tobacco.

After making a fortune from the tobacco trade in Virginia, Gordon's brother, Samuel, retired and purchased the Kenmore Estate; a piece of property that was previously owned by Betty Washington, the younger sister of George Washington, hero of the American Revolutionary War and first president of the United States of America. Alexander Gordon moved back to Scotland for the rest of his days until he passed in 1819. Despite Samuel's retirement and Alexanders return to the homeland, Gordon soldiered on to make, reported, millions.

Three of the four Gordon men married the daughters from one man's family, William Knox and his wife Susannah Fitzhugh of Culpeper county: Samuel Gordon married Susannah Knox and Bazil Gordon married Susannah Knox's sister, Anne Campbell Knox.

References

• Bazil Gordon of Lochdougan - America's First Millionaire; People and Places in Kirkcudbrightshire; kirkcudbright; 2014