Robert Gordon University university's coat of arms). The coat of arms of the university is inset into the head of the mace, along with golden symbols taken from it - the castle representing the city of Aberdeen, flaming torch, coin, and mechanical cog. The shaft of the mace is inlaid in gold with the university's motto, "Omni Nunc Arte Magistra". Like most Scottish universities, RGU has its own tartan; it mirrors the university's official colours of Royal Blue, Red and Gold which appear on the coat of arms (although purple is now used more frequently day-to-day). The tartan was designed by Michael King
Duke Gordon Duke Gordon Duke Gordon (1739–1800) was a Scottish librarian. Gordon was the son of William Gordon, a weaver in the Potterrow, Edinburgh, born on 20 May 1739. His father gave him his baptismal name from a clannish feeling for the Duke of Gordon. He was educated at a school in the Cowgate, under Andrew Waddel, translator of George Buchanan's paraphrase of the Psalms. On 13 March 1753 he entered the Greek class in Edinburgh University under Robert Hunter, and became a good scholar. During 1754 he was substitute teacher of the parish school of Tranent, Haddingtonshire, returning to the university