GORDON, Sir JouN WATSON. president of the royal Scottish academy, son of a capt. in the navy, was b. at Edinburgh about 1790. He studied for four years under John Graham, director of the academy of the trustees for the encouragement of manu facture, where he showed the usual desire of young artists to become an historical painter, but ultimately turned his attention to portratiture, in which he achieved a distinguished reputation. Gordon continued to reside in his native city. He first exhibited in the royal Scottish academy in 1827, was elected in 1841 an associate, in 1850 an academician' of the London royal academy; and on the death of sir William Allan, president of the royal Scottish academy, when the honor of knighthood was conferred on him. Gordon was as national in his art as it is possible for a portrait painter to be—that is to say, lie excelled in transferring to the canvas those lineaments of character which are conceived to be pre-eminently Scotch. The shrewd, cautious,
calculating countenance of the Caledonian has never been so happily rendered. Nearly every man of note in Scotland, and not a few in England. sat for their portrait to this artist. Among his best-known works may be mentioned " Sir Walter Scott" (1831); "Dr. Chalmers" (1837); "Duke of Bueclench " (1842); "Lord Cockburn" (1842); "Thomas De 'Quincey " (1843); " Lord., Robertson " (1846); " Principal Lee " (1847); " Professor Wilson " (1851); " Earl of Aberdeen" (1852); and " the Provost of Peter head" (1853). The last picture, which is the property of the Merchant Maiden hospital, Edinburgh, gained for Gordon the gold medal at the French exposition of 1855, and may be as reckoned among the happiest examples of portraiture in existence in any country. He died June, 1864.