Born in the Azores, Gordon was educated in England and immigrated to South Australia in 1853. He gained a position as a trooper in the South Australian Mounted Police and was stationed in Penola in the colony's south east. A keen horseman, Gordon had begun his racing career in 1852. He resigned from the Mounted Police in 1855 and took up horse-breaking. He traveled throughout the district breaking in horses for squatters, trading horses and training steeplechasers. Gordon became a familiar figure at race meetings in the south east. Around 1857 Gordon became friendly with Father Julian Tenison Woods who lent him books; inspiring his interest in literature.

In 1864 Gordon bought 'Dingley Dell', a cottage near Port MacDonnell. He also began speculating on land in South Australia and later in Western Australia. Gordon's first published poem, 'The Feud', appeared in the Border Watch newspaper on 30 August 1864. He was asked to stand for the South Australian Parliament in 1865 and topped the poll entering the House of Assembly as member for the district of Victoria later that year. He resigned from the parliament in 1866 and subsequently spent some time in Western Australia where he had purchased land and a flock of about 5000 sheep. The venture was not a success. The following year Gordon's first two volumes of poetry, Ashtaroth and Sea Spray and Smoke Drift, were published. Neither was financially successful.

In 1867 Gordon moved to Ballarat, joined the Ballarat Troop of Light Horse and hired livery stables. During that year, Gordon suffered serious injuries in a riding accident; the stables failed, Gordon's daughter died and a few months later his wife left him. He continued his racing career and became known for his recklessness. Gordon and his wife were re-united in Brighton, Melbourne, but his financial setbacks and depression had taken their toll. Although his Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes was soon to be published, Gordon shot himself on Brighton beach on 24 June 1870.

1867: Published two volumes of poetry; Ashtaroth and Sea Spray and Smoke Drift

Adam Lindsay Gordon is the only Australian writer to have a memorial in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, London.

Day, Lorraine. Gordon of Dingley Dell : the life of Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-1870) : poet and horseman, Seaford, S. Aust. : Freestyle Publications, 2003

Gordon, Adam Lindsay. Adam Lindsay Gordon, B. Elliott (ed.), Melbourne : Sun Books, 1973

Hutton, Geoffrey. Adam Lindsay Gordon : the man and the myth, Carlton, Vic. : Melbourne University Press, 1996

Papers relating to A.L. Gordon, D 5534(Misc)

The Adam Lindsay Gordon Commemorative Committee Inc.

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online: Search for Adam Lindsay Gordon