Sir Andrew Duff Gordon, 8th Baronet, died 24 April, 2023. He was 89.
Andrew Cosmo Lewis Duff Gordon was born 17 October, 1933, the only son of Sir Douglas Duff Gordon, 7th Baronet (1892-1964), and his wife the former Gladys Rosemary Henry (died 18 October, 1933), daughter of Colonel Vivien Henry, CB.
The baronetcy was created in 1813, for a scion of the Gordon Earls of Aberdeen. Sir Andrew's forebear - Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, the 5th Baronet and Lady Duff-Gordon - were passengers on board the Titanic. The couple boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with ticket 11755 (£39 12s) Sir Cosmo occupied cabin A-16 and Lady Duff-Gordon cabin A-20. For some reason the Duff-Gordons signed onto the ship as Mr and Mrs Morgan. On the night of the sinking they approached First officer William McMaster Murdoch who was supervising the loading of the Emergency Lifeboat 1. Sir Cosmo asked if he and his wife could get in and Murdoch replied that he would be glad if they would. A few minutes later at 1:10 am Lifeboat 1 was lowered containing only 12 people of whom 7 were crew members. Sir Cosmo's reputation was irreparably damaged following the inquiry after the disaster.
He succeeded to the baronetcy on his father's death, 15 March, 1964, having served in the Worecestershire Regiment and the 1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment, 1952-54; and was a member of Lloyd's 1962-91.
He married firstly, 2 Sept, 1967 (div 1975), Grania Mary Villiers-Stuart (1941-2012), daughter of FitzGerald Villiers-Stuart, of Dromana, Villierstown, County Waterford; married 2ndly, 18 December, 1975, Eveline Virginia Soames, scion of that landed family, daughter of Lieutenant-Col Samuel Soames, of Boxford House, Newbury. He is survived by his second wife, Evie, and by a son, Cosmo, from his first marriage, and three sons, William, Thomas and Frederick from his second marriage.
His eldest son, Cosmo Henry Villiers Duff Gordon, born 18 June, 1968, succeeds as 9th baronet.
Sir Andrew died three days after the birth of a grandson, James, born on 21 April, to his son Frederick and his wife Charlotte.
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