Known popularly as ‘Chinese Gordon’ and ‘Gordon Pasha’, he was a professional soldier who served with distinction in the Crimean War and in various engagements in China. For a time he was Governor-General of Egypt, served in various other administrative posts, and was made major-general in 1884. He died heroically defending Khartoum against an uprising of fanatical Muslims. He was a constant student of the Bible, which he was seen carrying more often than a sword or gun, and a man greatly trusted and beloved.
His monument in St Paul’s reads:
He saved an empire by his warlike genius, he ruled vast provinces with justice, wisdom and power, and lastly obedient to his sovereign’s command, he died in the heroic attempt to save men, women and children from imminent and deadly peril. ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’