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- BIOGRAPHY
Alexander was the son of George Gordon, 2nd earl of Huntly, and his third wife Elizabeth Hay. There is uncertainty as to when he was born, but the fact that he sat in Parliament in 1485 suggests he was born before 1464, to have reached the age of majority.
On 14 October 1474 he contracted to marry Lady Janet Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st earl of Atholl, and his first wife Lady Margaret Douglas 'the Fair Maid of Galloway'. They became the parents of four sons and two daughters.
On 8 July 1482 Alexander witnessed, as the granter's son, a charter by George, earl of Huntlie to Thomas Barde and his wife.
His father died before 30 January 1502 and he succeeded him as earl of Huntly. His wife Janet died on 27 November 1510 at Strathbogie, and before 27 July 1511 Alexander married Elizabeth Gray, widow of John Lyon, 4th Lord Glamis, and daughter of Andrew Gray, 2nd Lord Gray, and Janet Keith. There was no progeny from this marriage.
He received considerable grants from the Crown and was in command of a battalion at the Battle of Flodden, 8 September 1513, being one of the few Scottish nobles who survived that defeat. In 1517 he was one of the Council of Regency and Lieutenant over all Scotland, except over Argyll's bounds. He died in Perth on 21 January 1524 and was buried at the Dominican Friars there.
Before 5 June 1525 his widow married George Leslie, 4th earl of Rothes.
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