SIR THOMAS GATES.
Sir Thomas Gates, a patentee named in the first charter to the Virginia
Company, was a Captain in the English army, and, by leave,
served in the United Netherlands in 1608. He sailed for Virginia with
the title of Lieutenant-General, accompanied by his wife and daughters,
June 1, 1609, in the "Sea Venture," with colonists and supplies. The
vessel being shipwrecked on the Bermudas, they were detained there some
months, during which the wife of Gates died. He arrived at Jamestown
May 23, 1609, and assumed the government of the Colony until
the arrival of Lord De La Warr on the 10th of June following. Gates
was sent to England the same year, and returned to the Colony with
supplies in August, 1611. He remained as Governor until March, 1613,
when he finally departed for England. He is mentioned subsequently
as being present at a meetimg of the Virginia Company, held in
London, July 13, 1619.
