Background
Gordon was the son of George Loyall and Mary Long (Daniel) Gordon, as well as the grandson and biographer of William F. Gordon. Through his mother, he was a descendant of William Randolph and John Stith.
Gordon attended the University of Virginia for two years, beginning in 1873, then taught school and studied law, joining the bar in 1879. He practiced law in Staunton, Virginia, where he was mayor for two years, and served as Commonwealth's Attorney. He was a member of the Boards of Visitors of the College of William & Mary and the University of Virginia, where he also served as rector, and he was the first chairman of the Virginia State Library Board. His tenure on the University of Virginia board included the aftermath of the burning of The Rotunda. He received an honorary of Doctor of Laws degree from the College of William & Mary in 1906 and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Washington and Lee University in 1923. He was a president of The Virginia Bar Association, for 1920-21.
Read more about this topic: Armistead C. Gordon
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