Revolutionary War Continental General. Born in Essex, England, he entered the British Army as a boy and received a Lieutenant's commission in 1745. He served in Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession and was promoted to Captain in 1753. Coming to the colonies in America, he fought in the French and Indian War, later served in the West Indies and retired from the British Army as a Major. In 1763, he emigrated to America and purchased an estate in Virginia. With the outbreak of the War of Independence in 1775, he went to Mount Vernon to offer his services to George Washington in organizing the Continental Army. In 1776, the Continental Congress commissioned Gates a Brigadier General and the first Adjutant General for the Army. He commanded the Northern Department and at the Battle of Saratoga, he forced British General John Burgoyne to surrender his whole army on October 17, 1777. In January 1778, he was appointed as Major General President of the Board of War, took command of the Army of South and was defeated by British General Cornwallis at Camden, South Carolina in August 1780. After the war, he retired to his Virginian estate for while and in 1783, was elected as vice-president of the National Order of Cincinnati. In 1790, he moved to New York City. He was elected to a single two year term in the New York State Legislature in 1800 as a Representative. He remained active in the city's affairs until his death at age 78.
Revolutionary War Continental General. Born in Essex, England, he entered the British Army as a boy and received a Lieutenant's commission in 1745. He served in Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession and was promoted to Captain in 1753. Coming to the colonies in America, he fought in the French and Indian War, later served in the West Indies and retired from the British Army as a Major. In 1763, he emigrated to America and purchased an estate in Virginia. With the outbreak of the War of Independence in 1775, he went to Mount Vernon to offer his services to George Washington in organizing the Continental Army. In 1776, the Continental Congress commissioned Gates a Brigadier General and the first Adjutant General for the Army. He commanded the Northern Department and at the Battle of Saratoga, he forced British General John Burgoyne to surrender his whole army on October 17, 1777. In January 1778, he was appointed as Major General President of the Board of War, took command of the Army of South and was defeated by British General Cornwallis at Camden, South Carolina in August 1780. After the war, he retired to his Virginian estate for while and in 1783, was elected as vice-president of the National Order of Cincinnati. In 1790, he moved to New York City. He was elected to a single two year term in the New York State Legislature in 1800 as a Representative. He remained active in the city's affairs until his death at age 78.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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See more Gates memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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