PLACE NAME
General Charles George Gordon (January 28, 1833 – January 26, 1885), an adventurer killed in Sudan. This street was named in 1875 while Gordon was Governor of Central Africa. He came to public attention in 1864 when he was sent to suppress a rebellion against the Qing dynasty in China, which threatened British trading interests. In 1884, as the governor of Sudan, he was sent to evacuate loyal Egyptian soldiers trapped in Khartoum following a revolt by Sudanese Muslims. Instead of yielding the city to the Mahdists, Gordon organised a city-wide defence with a small band of soldiers and civilian men. This decision infuriated his political masters in London but gained wide-support across the UK. After holding out for nearly a year the Islamic forces overwhelmed the defences and Gordon was killed. His body was never found. Gordon’s upright character and faith maintained his popularity with the public and the name was a popular choice for streets with developers at the time.
