GATES, HORATIO American general, was born at Maldon in Essex, England, in 1728. He entered the English army at an early age, and was rapidly promoted. He accompanied Gen. Braddock in his disastrous expedition against Ft. Duquesne in 1755, and was severely wounded in the battle of July 9; he saw other active service in the Seven Years' War. After the peace of 1763 he purchased an estate in Virginia, where he lived till the outbreak of the American Revolution in when he was named by Congress adjutant-general. In 1776 he was appointed to command the troops which had lately retreated from Canada, and in Aug. '777, as a result of a successful intrigue, was appointed to supersede Gen. Philip Schuyler in command of the Northern Department. In the two battles of Saratoga (q.v.) his army defeated Gen. Burgoyne, who, on Oct. 17, was forced to surrender his whole army. This success was, however, due largely to the previous manoeuvres of Schuyler and to Gates's subordi nate officers. The intrigues of the Conway Cabal to have Wash ington superseded by Gates completely failed, but Gates was president for a time of the board of war, and in 1780 was placed in chief command in the South. He was totally defeated at Cam den, S.C., by Cornwallis on Aug. 17, 178o, and in December was superseded by Greene, though an investigation into his conduct terminated in acquittal (1782). He then retired to his Virginian estate, whence he removed to New York in 1790, after emanci pating his slaves and providing for those who needed assistance. He died in. New York on April 1 o, 18o6.