Donald Gordon had the prosperity, the Royal patronage, and was the tenant of the largest farm on Royal Deeside. It is said he was the eighth of his family to farm Bovagli in Glen Muich. The property was owned by Peter Gordon Esq of Abergeldie.

Donald was born at Bovagli on 4th September 1811, the son of Donald Gordon of Bovagli known as ‘Red Donald’ (1770–1854 aged 83 ½ years ) and Elspet Gordon of Camlet ( Born at Crathie 1785 - 19 Mar 1886 aged 100–101).

Bovaglie was a holding of about 1500 acres of hill pasture farmed by the Gordon’s of Abergeldie in the parish of Crathie, Aberdeenshire. It was tenanted by the family, or families of Gordon for more than a 150 years until the 1930’s. Before they farmed at Bovaglie the family had had holdings at Crathie and were descended from the Gordons of Hallhead.

A wonderful story about Donald was told.

He had a liking for a dram (or two) and used to take his horse and cart through the Bovagli wuid, past the Genechal, and Tilfogar, down the glen to Easter Balmoral and along the Dee to the Inver. On the way home he would sometimes have a sleep in the cart whilst his understanding horse would take him home on its own. One day two boys were waiting for him and they unhitched the cart from the horse, with Donald still sleeping soundly, and then hitched it back together – after first passing the shafts of the cart through the spars of the gate. They then hid and waited eagerly. A dazed Donald Gordon studied his predicament before he was heard to say himself…

“I doobt the diel himsel has been at work here the day!”

Donald Gordon was well known at all the big sheep fairs in the area with his red whiskers and paunch and great success in sheep farming.

When Queen Victoria took the lease on the Abergeldie Estate many tenants were evicted from the estate farms. However, Donald continued to farm at Bovaglie and is known to have turned out with the ‘ Queen’s Highlanders ‘. Donald married Margaret Smith at Kintore and together raised a family on the farm..

Donald also held the lease on another farm ‘Wester Morven’ on the Marquis of Huntley’s land. He later bought a property in Dee Street in Aberdeen, which he used during the winter months.

In his 85 years he had become wealthy enough to be a laird in his own right. Donald Gordon died on 5th Feb 1897 (aged 85) and he is buried in the Crathie Kirkyard, Aberdeenshire

Kenneth MacLeay watercolour of Donald Gordon

It is interesting to compare it to the romanticised watercolour and the coloured lithograph portrait of Donald painted by Kenneth MacLeay for Queen Victoria in 1868.

The Notice on the reverse of this RSA painting states:

“Donald Gordon (aged 57 – 1868) occupies Bovagli. As the Estate of Abergeldy is leased to the Queen, he is personally known to Her Majesty and ‘turns out’ with the Queen’s Highlanders…. He holds another Farm, Wester Morven, on the Marquis of Huntly’s Estate (which was considered locally a great catch for him to get). The family have lived for Eight generations on the Abergeldy property”