Patrick Gordon (c. 1664/1665 – August 5, 1736) was a British colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties on Delaware from 1726 until his death in 1736.
Born in England, Gordon had a background as a career military officer, having served in the British Army. He was appointed to his colonial post by the Penn family, the proprietors of Pennsylvania, succeeding William Keith. His arrival in the colony in 1726 marked a period of relative stability and conciliation after the more contentious tenure of his predecessor.
During his administration, Gordon focused on several key areas:
- Relations with Native Americans: Gordon cultivated generally positive relations with various Native American tribes, including the Lenape (Delaware) and the Iroquois Confederacy. He worked diligently to maintain peace on the frontier and to uphold existing treaties, frequently engaging in councils and negotiations to resolve disputes and manage land issues. His policies aimed at fostering trade and preventing unauthorized encroachments on Native lands, which contributed to a period of reduced tensions and continued cooperation.
- Colonial Assembly: Gordon generally maintained a cooperative relationship with the Pennsylvania Assembly. Although common points of contention between colonial governors and assemblies, such as proprietary land rights, defense funding, and the issuance of paper currency, occasionally arose, Gordon's pragmatic approach often led to compromises and effective legislative action, allowing for the smooth functioning of colonial government.
- Economic Policies: He oversaw the continued issuance of paper currency, which was vital for the colony's growing economy and facilitated trade. While he sometimes faced challenges in balancing the needs for a stable currency within the colony with the concerns and regulations of the British Board of Trade, he generally supported the economic expansion of Pennsylvania.
- Frontier Defense: Despite Pennsylvania's founding principles of Quaker pacifism, Gordon, with his military background, recognized the practical need for defense. He advocated for a more organized militia system and sought funds for frontier protection, though these efforts often met with some resistance from the largely pacifist Assembly.
Gordon's decade-long tenure was largely characterized by peace and prosperity for the Province of Pennsylvania. He died in office on August 5, 1736, in Philadelphia, and was interred at Christ Church Burial Ground. Following his death, James Logan, a prominent colonial official, served as acting governor.