"PIONEERS OF THE PLANTING ENTERPRISE IN CEYLON." 
{Fourth Series.) 
JOHN LEWIS GORDON, 
PLANTER AND MERCHANT :— 1847-1879 * 
HE above years indicate the 
term of Mr. John Lewis 
Gordon's useful career as a 
Ceylon Colonist — as Planter 
and Merchant. He arrived 
in the Island in 1847, and he 
finally quitted our shores in 
1879. This comprises a third 
of a century in the modern History of Ceylon, and 
a very important period it was in the development 
especially of the Planting Enterprise. Practically 
cofiee plantations on a large and regular system had 
only been ten years in existence when Mr. Gordon 
arrived, and he retired just before it became evident 
that cofiee was doomed — a fact that was made very 
clear by 1881-3, after which attention was chiefly 
directed to Cinchona, though here and there tea 
clearings were beginning to shew up, following tha 
example of Condegalla, Loolecondura, Horagalla, 
Kandaloya, Rookwood, Strathellie, Abbotsford, &c. 
But we must go back to the beginning with our 
memoir, John Lewis Gordon was born on the 8th 
May, 1827, and must have been no more than 20 
years of age when he landed in Ceylon in 1847. 
He was preceded two or three years earlier by a 
brother, Alick Norman Gordon, and both began 
their planting career on one or other of the very 
few estates then opened in Dimbula,t although 
John Lewis soon moved to Koorocoodie, Amba- 
gamuwa, where he made a friend of Mr. Wm. Grant, 
—then of Templestowe, afterwards of New Valley, 
* The Editor has to explain how he completed a 
Memoir of Mr. John Lewis Gordon some inonihs ago 
at Nuwara Bliya and posted the packet to his Colombo 
office ; but it never reached its destination. The 
Postal officials have done all iu their power to trace 
the packet, but so far in vain ; and so after waitiug 
over two months, this substitute for the lost memoir 
has been prepared under considerable disadvantages, 
t Alick N. Gordon lived in what was then called the 
Swiss Cottage at Radella, which many years afterwards 
became Judd's " Store '' and bungalow. 
Dikoya— his future brother-in-law. Koorocoodie* 
belonged to Colonial Secretary Anstruther, son- 
in-law to Governor Stewart Mackenzie, but who 
quarrelled with his successor Sir Colin Campbell, 
and retired to manage" his estates. Not for 
long though, as he could not get on with the 
coolies ; and so went home. He was a very able 
Civilian, known as the " One-armed Eajah."' After 
a few years, Mr. Gordon took charge of the Peacock 
estate in Pussellawa, having for his proprietor Sir 
John Wilson, and as Agents Messrs. Geo. Steuart & 
Co., and with the latter he began a connection which 
lasted until Mr. Gordon became a partner and eventu- 
ally the managing partner of the Firm. Mr. Gordon 
after some time left Peacock for VVavendon, and 
he was said to be the first Superintendent of many, 
that Sir John Wilson had parted with on good 
terms, a very nice appreciative letter coming to 
Mr. Gordon, saying how sorry Sir John was to lose 
his services, and hoping that his prospects would be 
bettered by the change. It was on 1st July, 1853 
— a great landmark in Mr. Gordon's life — that he 
entered on the management of Wavendon Estate, 
Ramboda, of which he very soon became co-pro- 
prietor with Capt. Horace G, Hayes. Old John 
(or J ohnny) Falconer — afterwards shot by a thieving 
Kangany at Hantane — preceded Mr Gordon as 
Manager on Wavendon, and from March, 1853, Mr. 
Falconer had as his Sinne Durai a very young Irish- 
man, a relative of the proprietor, in Mr. Walter Agar, 
who came out as a lad of between 14 and 15 years to 
begin the planting career to which now for the long 
period of half a century continuously he has been 
so intelligently, industriously, and we are glad 
to say, not unsuccessfully attached. Mr. Lewis 
• One old story from Koorocoodie estate told bow the 
felling contractors came on a cheetah's den in the 
jungle with three cubs, which they secured and brought 
to the bungalow. Two were of the ordinary sort, and 
one black. The servants tried hard to rear the latter, 
but it died. 
