Gordon became the third governor of Michiganex officio, when William Woodbridge resigned on February 23, 1841, to become a U.S. Senator. He completed the remainder of Woodbridge's term until January 3, 1842.
Gordon was the U.S. Consul in Pernambuco, Brazil, from 1850 to 1853 and died at the age of 44 while in office, when he accidentally fell to his death from a second-story balcony. He is buried in Brazil.