Charles Gordon (Royal Navy officer)
Admiral Charles Gordon, CB (1781 – 3 October 1860) was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the nineteenth century. Gordon's most notable action was the action of 18 September 1810, when he was seriously wounded in battle and his frigate HMS Ceylon captured by the French frigate Vénus. Gordon was recaptured by Commodore Josias Rowley the following day and later took part in the capture of Île de France. This was the second occasion on which Gordon had been captured, but he had also distinguished himself in operations against Persian Gulf pirates in the campaign of 1809 and was flag captain at the capture of Île de France in December 1810. His later career was unremarkable, although he eventually rose to become an admiral and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath before his death in 1860. Gordon was the third son of Robert Francis Grant-Gordon and Mary Aston, daughter of Sir Willoughby Aston, 5th Baronet. He was the younger brother of Sir James Willoughby Gordon, who was created a baronet and Rear-Admiral Henry Gordon, who was twice mayor of Bath. Military career Charles Gordon joined the Royal Navy in June 1796 as a midshipman