Who is General Gordon?
Mr. Gordon's full name is Charles George Gordon. He was born in London on 28 January 1833. He is also known as Gordon of Khartoum and Chinese Gordon. Mr. Gordon was a British army officer as well as administer who showcased his skills inside and outside of his country. He glanced the martial action during Crimean war but his militant reputation grew in popularity when his services were offered in China and Sudan. Mr. Gordon was killed during the Fall of Khartoum on 26 January 1885 at the age of 51.
Gordon's Achievements during his Military Career
Mr. Garden was basically and professionally devoted his life for the cause of militant activities and he acquired a pretty good name during his military career. In 1863, Mr. Gordon took charge of a Chinese army which was offered by European which was offered by Europeans. The purpose behind this militant group was to subdue the Taiping revolt. Mr. Gordon openly protested against the execution of the rebels but he rejoined his post at the end of 1863. The Taiping revolt was crushed in 1864 and Gordon's refusal to accept huge money offered by the Chinese kingdom spiked his reputation as a hero.
Gordon's fame kept growing during his services in his homeland when he was appointed to protect the Thames forts. He kept himself occupied in social working activities. He visited schools of poor children and he even employed the needy boys in his house which further refined his image.
Garden wanted independence of Sudan and to open the communications with the Red Sea but this was a tough task. He asked the Turkish government to assist him but Khartoum (capital of Sudan) was occupied by the Mahdi's groups and Gordon was killed. His murder had a significant impression on the British people and the government of Great Britain announced that day as a national day to mourn his death. Gordon's martial departure brought forth a movement which resulted in the collapse of the first 'imperialism' and of Liberals.
Strachey's Postmortem of Gordon's Character
Lytton Strachey's Eminent Victorians opened up the secrecy of the Victorian heroes to the public. General Gordon was no exception. On one side, we see Gordon as a true follower of Christianity, studying the Holy Bible all day long. But on the flip side, Strachey shows us a diplomatic person whose personal ego creates a stumbling block for him against his officials which pretty much ends at his death at Khartoum. Instead of softening the already dismal situation at the capital of Sudan, Garden worsened it because of his stern attitude. So, Gordon was a mercenary "who got into and out of conflicts on behalf of various dubious governments".
Conclusion
Strachey's views on General Gordon are convincing and strategically presented. There is no doubt that he was a man of knighthood (principled and intelligent) but he was a man, a man of egoistic errors.
Sources and Suggested Readings
