George Hamilton-Gordon, 5th Earl of Aberdeen
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George John James Hamilton-Gordon, 5th Earl of Aberdeen (28 September 1816–22 March 1864) was a British peer and Liberal politician, known before 1860 as Lord Haddo.
Lord Haddo was born at Bentley Priory, the eldest son of the 4th Earl of Aberdeen and was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge. On 5 November 1840, he married Mary Baillie (a sister of the future 10th Earl of Haddington) at Taymouth Castle and they had six children: George (1816–1864), James Henry (1845–1868, killed in a rifle accident), John Campbell (1847–1934), Mary (1844–1914, married the 8th Lord Polwarth), Harriet (1849–1942, married William Lindsay) and Katherine Eliza (1852–1931, married the 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh).
His cousin, William Gordon, had retired as MP for Aberdeenshire in 1854 and Haddo put himself forward as his successor. However, Haddo had contracted what was probably tuberculosis and he went to Egypt to spend a few months in a warm climate. Despite being absent from Scotland and not having canvassed the constituency, Haddo won the election and returned to take his seat in the Commons, in good health, a year later. He left the Commons after inheriting his father's title in 1860 and made a second trip to Egypt. Aberdeen had previously converted to evangelicalism and it was in Egypt that he campaigned for the Coptics to convert to his own faith. Aberdeen later returned to Scotland and died at his home, Haddo House in 1864. He was buried at Methlick and was succeeded by his eldest son, George. His last words were (when asked how he felt) "Perfectly comfortable".
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: William Gordon |
Member for Aberdeenshire 1854–1860 |
Succeeded by: William Leslie |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded by: George Hamilton-Gordon |
Earl of Aberdeen 1860–1864 |
Succeeded by: George Hamilton-Gordon |
