Robert Gordon (philanthropist) the late twentieth century as The Robert Gordon University. Robert Gordon (philanthropist) Robert Gordon (1668–1731), a 17th-century merchant and philanthropist, was born in Aberdeen. He was the only son of Arthur Gordon who married Isabella Menzies of Balgownie. When Arthur Gordon, a well-respected advocate in the Edinburgh courts, died in 1680, he left his twelve-year-old son the sum of 20,000 merks (about £1,100 then and considerably more in modern currency). When Gordon reached the age of sixteen he became a Burgess of the City of Aberdeen. Among other benefits, this entitled him to follow a merchant's trade in the town.
Robert A. Gordon Robert A. Gordon Robert A. Gordon (born August 10, 1932) is an American sociologist best known for his work on intelligence, criminality, and race. Born in New York City, he served in the United States Army from 1955-1957. Gordon earned his B.A. from the College of the City of New York in 1957, then attended the University of Chicago, earning his M.A. in 1961 and his Ph.D. in 1963. That year, he began teaching at Johns Hopkins University, until retiring in 2005. He was the second husband of Linda Gottfredson, and one of 52 signatories on "Mainstream Science on Intelligence,"