Gordon, James, second Viscount Aboyne d. 1649, was the second son of George, second marquis of Huntly [qv.]. His father, created Viscount Aboyne in 1632, was eldest son of George, first marquis of Huntly [qv.]. His mother was Lady Anne Campbell, daughter of Archibald, seventh earl of Argyll. On his father becoming second Marquis of Huntly in 1636 he succeeded in terms of the patent as second Viscount Aboyne. He took the field for Charles I against the covenanters, and was defeated by Montrose at the bridge of Dee on 19 June 1639, but escaped by sea to England. Being summoned before the council of Scotland in 1643 to answer for his negotiations with the Earl of Antrim, and not appearing, he was forfeited and declared a traitor. When Montrose sided with the king, Aboyne attended him to Scotland, occupied Dumfries, and was appointed lieutenant in the north. He afterwards obtained the command of the garrison at Carlisle. On 24 April 1644 he was excommunicated by the general assembly at Edinburgh. He joined Montrose in Menteith in April 1645, and continued with him until September following, when he proceeded to the north with his troop of horse just before the battle of Philiphaugh. As he was exempted from pardon in 1648, he took refuge in Paris, where he died of grief upon hearing of the execution of Charles I in the following year. He was unmarried, and the viscounty expired with him.

Sources:
     Douglas's Peerage of Scotland (Wood), i. 24
     William Gordon's Hist. of the Gordons, ii. 580
     Guthry's Memoirs
     Spalding's Troubles in Scotland.

Contributor: G. G. [Gordon Goodwin]

Published: 1890