James Bentley Gordon
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James Bentley Gordon (1750 – 10 April 1819) was an Irish clergyman, and a geographer and historian. He published a history of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, soon after the events.
Gordon was the son of the Rev. James Gordon of Neeve Hall in County Londonderry; he entered Trinity College Dublin in 1768, and graduated B.A. in 1772. On leaving college he was ordained in the Church of Ireland in 1773, and in 1776 became tutor to the sons of Lord Courtown. About 1779 he tried managing a boarding-school at Marlfield in County Wexford, but the enterprise was not successful. In 1796 he was presented to the living of Cannaway in County Cork, and in 1799 to that of Killegney in County Wexford, both of which he retained until his death.[1][2]
His sight was severely affected by a long illness; he was said to have an awkward and peculiar manner, probably caused by his sight problems. His abilities declined in later years, and he died on 10 April 1819.[2]
Family
He married in 1779 a daughter of Richard Bookey of Wicklow, and they had several children; his eldest son, James George, entered the army, and was killed at Fort Sandusky in Canada on 25 August 1813; another son, Richard Bentley, was prebendary of Ferns and Leighlin from 1819 to 1823; a daughter was married to his biographer, Thomas Jones.[1]
