Gates

Gates, HORATIO, an American general, was born at Maldon, in Essex, England, in 1728. He entered the English army, served in America, where he was major under Braddock, and with difficulty escaped in the defeat in which that officer was slain. On the peace of 1763 he purchased an estate in Virginia, where he resided until the war of independence. In this struggle he sided with his adoptive country, and in 1775 was made adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier, receiving in 1776 command of the army which had just retreated from Canada. In August 1777 he superseded Schuyler in command of the northern department; and, principally as the result of his predecessor's able manoeuvres, he was enabled to defeat and compel the surrender of the British army at Saratoga in October (see BURGOYNE). This success gained him a great reputation, which probably is accountable for his endeavour to supplant Washington in the chief command of the army; but this failing, he retired to his estate until 1780, when he was called to the command of the army of the South, and in the unfortunate defeat near Camden, in South Carolina, lost the laurels he had previously won. He was superseded, and was not acquitted of blame by court-martial until 1782. He then retired to Virginia till 1790, when he emancipated all his slaves, and settled in New York. There he died on April 10, 1806.