William A. Gordon graduated from Northwestern University in 1960, and from Harvard Law School in 1963. After a judicial clerkship, he joined the international law firm of Mayer Brown and Platt, where he became a partner in 1970, and practiced law for 35 years. For more than four decades, Mr. Gordon has been an avid collector and student of Georgian caricature, book illustration and related materials. He has published two volumes illustrating, describing, and commenting on the material forming his Library of British satire. Mr. Gordon lives in Glencoe, Illinois, with Joyce, his wife of 58 years.

They have three sons and seven grandchildren.