Georgia Historical Society

William Washington Gordon was an eminent Georgia citizen, a skilled lawyer, and is perhaps best known for being the first president of the Central Railroad and Banking Company.  Born to Elizabeth Meade Gordon and Revolutionary War veteran Ambrose Gordon, William Gordon became West Point’s first Georgia graduate.  After leaving West Point, he moved to Savannah to study law under Judge James Moore Wayne.  He later married Wayne's niece, Sarah Anderson Stites.  His legal career included positions as legal advisor to the city of Savannah, alderman, representative and senator for Georgia, and mayor of Savannah.  

Gordon’s 1836 appointment as president of the Central Railroad and Banking Company’s board of directors forced him to abandon his legal career and step down as Savannah’s mayor.  In his new position, Gordon oversaw work on a rail line that would connect to the center of Georgia’s cotton belt.  Sadly, he did not live to see rail line completed, dying in 1842 at the age of forty-six.  The line was completed in 1843.  In 1850, Gordon County was named in his honor.  He was the grandfather of Girl Scout Founder, Juliette Gordon Low.

Adapted from the New Georgia Encyclopedia article on William Washington Gordon

From the GHS Collection:

Manuscript: Gordon family papers, 1802-1946, MS 318