GATES, Sir THOMAS ( ?-c.1621). The first regular Colonial Governor of Virginia under the Virginia Company. He was born probably at Colyford, Devonshire, England; entered the mili tary service; accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his voyage to America in 1585-86, and for his conduct at the capture of Cadiz was knighted in June, 1596. In 1598 he entered Gray's Inn, and in the following year was engaged in public ser vice at Plymouth; but soon afterwards he en listed, together with Sir Thomas Dale (q.v.), in the service of the Netherlands. He was one of the first petitioners for royal license to colonize Virginia and was one of the incorporators of the first Virginia charter of 1606. Having ob tained a leave of absence from the States-Gen eral, he was chosen the first Deputy Governor of Virginia, and was placed in command, with Sir George Somers and Captain Newport, of the fleet of nine vessels, carrying 500 colonists, which sailed for America in 1609. The Sea Ven ture, carrying Gates, Somers, and Newport, was wrecked on the Bermudas, where, within the next nine months, two new vessels Were constructed. Leaving the Bermudas on May 10, 1610, Gates arrived at Jamestown in May, near the close of the 'starving time,' and was installed with great ceremony as Deputy Governor, replacing George Percy, the retiring president of the King's Coun cil. The famished colonists clamoring to be taken
from Virginia, Gates crowded them upon four small vessels and started with them for England, but was met at the mouth of the James River and turned back by Lord De La, Warr (q.v.), who, in turn, was installed as Governor. Gates was sent to England for a new supply of cattle; returned to Jamestown in 1611 with six ships and 300 colonists, and remained as Lieutenant Governor until March, 1614. He afterwards served on one of the committees of the Vir ginia Company, and in 1620 was appointed by James I. one of "the first moderne and present Councill established at Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the planting, ruling, and govern ing of New England in America." For an ac count of the administration of affairs in Virginia by Gates. consult Brown, The First Republic in America (Boston, 1808).