William Gordon (Australian politician)

Gordon was born in Gawler, South Australia, to Margaret (née Leonard) and James Gordon. His parents were originally from Renfrewshire, Scotland, and his father was a Free Church of Scotland minister. Initially working as a clerk for the Bank of Adelaide, Gordon later spent a period living in the south-east of the colony, working as a jackaroo and later as a farmer near Bordertown. He moved to Western Australia in 1890, and set up in Perth as a livestock auctioneer and salesman. From 1899 to 1901, Gordon was chairman of the Canning Road Board.[1]

At the 1901 state election, Gordon was elected to parliament as the member for the newly created seat of South Perth. His seat was abolished at the 1904 election, but he successfully transferred to the seat of Canning, which had been re-created.[2] Gordon was appointed government whip after the election, and served in the position until the 1911 election, when he was defeated in Canning by the Labor Party's Charles Lewis. He made an attempt to re-enter parliament at the 1918 Legislative Council elections, but was defeated by Archibald Sanderson in Metropolitan-Suburban Province.[1]

After leaving office, Gordon lived in the country, farming first at Namban and later at Gingin. He died in Perth in August 1943, aged 80. Gordon had married Harriet Ann Scott in 1896, with whom he had four sons and two daughters. One of his sons, Jim Gordon, won the Victoria Cross in World War II. Additionally, Gordon's older brother, Sir John Hannah Gordon, was a member of parliament in South Australia.[1]