William Gates

William Gates (6 April 1788 – 7 October 1868) was a long serving career United States Army officer who served on active duty from when he entered West Point as a cadet in 1801 until his final retirement in 1867. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, Seminole Wars, the Mexican War and the American Civil War, to which he was called to duty at the age of 73.

Early life

He was born on 6 April 1788 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was the son of Captain Lemuel Gates, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, and attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, graduating in 1800.

Military career

Gates was one of the first cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point when he was appointed as a cadet on 2 March 1801. He graduated on 6 March 1806, and was commissioned in the Army as a second lieutenant in the Regiment of Artillerists. He was the 11th cadet to graduate West Point and was ranked first in the Class of 1806.

He served in garrison at forts along the Atlantic seaboard from 1806 to 1812. He was promoted to first lieutenant on 3 November 1807.

War of 1812

In the War of 1812 he served as acting adjutant of Regiment of Light Artillery, and Aide-de-camp to Brevet Brigadier General Moses Porter in 1813, being engaged in the capture of York (now Toronto) in Upper Canada on 27 April 1813. He was promoted to captain on 3 March 1813.

Gates then participated in the bombardment and capture of Fort George on 27 May 1813.

He was placed in command of Fort Independence, Massachusetts from 1813 to 1815. This coincided with British capturing Castine, Maine in 1814 which created the fear that any part of the New England coast might be subject to attack but no attacks were made against Massachusetts. The war ended with the news of the Treaty of Ghent had been signed in early 1815.