Frederick Bates (June 23, 1777 – August 4, 1825), was an American attorney and politician. He was elected in 1824 as the second governor of Missouri and died in office in 1825. Before that he had served as a justice of the Territorial Supreme Court for Michigan Territory, was appointed by Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of the Louisiana Territory and started to build his political base in St. Louis.
Frederick Bates was born in 1777 into the enslaver class in Goochland County, Virginia. Though a Quaker, Bates and his family were lifelong slaveholders. Bates was schooled privately at his family's Belmont plantation by tutors. Later he went to college and read the law with an established firm. He settled in Detroit in 1797 and became its first postmaster in 1803.[1] He was a member of the Bates family along with his brothers Edward and James Woodson Bates.[2]
Careeredit
After working as an attorney, Bates started his political career when appointed as a justice of the Territorial Supreme Court for Michigan Territory in Detroit. He received a significant promotion when the Aaron Burr conspiracy was uncovered. In February 1807, while Bates was in Washington, President Thomas Jefferson appointed him to be Secretary of the Louisiana Territory, as well as a recorder of land titles.[3] As secretary, he was also commander in chief of the militia.[4] He held this position in St. Louis until 1812. Bates helped determine whether conflicting French, Spanish, and American land claims in the territory would be upheld, as it had been subject to three differing political systems.[5]
Jefferson had already decided on the returning explorer and fellow Virginian Meriwether Lewis as governor of the huge new Louisiana Territory, which approximately equaled the size of the existing United States. Bates preceded Lewis to St. Louis and became a powerful political force in the new territory; he was a political rival of Lewis until the latter's death while traveling from St. Louis to Washington on business in 1809. Later, as Secretary of the newly formed Missouri Territory (1812–1821), he became acting governor in the frequent absences of Territorial Governor William Clark.[3]
In the August 1824 election, Bates was elected the second governor of Missouri. He died in office in August 1825 in Chesterfield, Missouri, due to a short illness thought to be pneumonia. Bates was buried at the family cemetery on the Thornhill estate near St. Louis.
Marriage and familyedit
Main house at Thornhill, Governor Bates estate.
In 1819, Bates married Nancy Opie Ball (1802–1877), daughter of a wealthy Virginia colonel. The couple had four children, Emily Caroline (1820–1891), Lucius Lee (1821–1898), Woodville (1823–1840) and Frederick Jr. (1826–1862).[6]
During his time in Missouri, Bates acquired nearly 1000 acres (4 km2) of land, which he called Thornhill. He also acquired several enslaved men, women, and children. He had built a Federal-style home with high ceilings for summer ventilation, fine woodwork and a sophisticated floor plan; all this would have been familiar to Bates from his childhood home, Belmont, in Goochland County, Virginia. The Thornhill estate still exists today and can be viewed by the public. It is located in Faust County Park in Chesterfield, Missouri.
^Dunbar, Willis F. & May, George S. (3d ed. 1995). Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State, p. 113. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
^Mercer, Thomas (1990). Bates: A Familial Journey. Boston Herald Publ.
^ abWilliam E. Foley (12 March 2014). The Genesis of Missouri: From Wilderness Outpost to Statehood. University of Missouri Press. pp. 215–. ISBN978-0-8262-6053-6.
^Salter, William. "The life of Henry Dodge, from 1782 to 1833: with portrait by George Catlin and maps of the battles of the Pecatonica and Wisconsin Heights in the Black Hawk War". American West. Adam Matthew Digital. p. 3. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^Henry Putney Beers (1 December 1989). French and Spanish Records of Louisiana: A Bibliographical Guide to Archive and Manuscript Sources. LSU Press. pp. 281–. ISBN978-0-8071-2793-3.
^William Smith Bryan; Macgunnigle (1 June 2009). Rhode Island Freemen, 1747-1755. Genealogical Publishing Com. pp. 131–. ISBN978-0-8063-0753-4.
^Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 208.
frederick, bates, politician, frederick, bates, june, 1777, august, 1825, american, attorney, politician, elected, 1824, second, governor, missouri, died, office, 1825, before, that, served, justice, territorial, supreme, court, michigan, territory, appointed,. Frederick Bates June 23 1777 August 4 1825 was an American attorney and politician He was elected in 1824 as the second governor of Missouri and died in office in 1825 Before that he had served as a justice of the Territorial Supreme Court for Michigan Territory was appointed by Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of the Louisiana Territory and started to build his political base in St Louis Frederick Bates2nd Governor of MissouriIn office November 15 1824 August 4 1825LieutenantBenjamin Harrison ReevesPreceded byAlexander McNairSucceeded byAbraham J WilliamsPersonal detailsBorn 1777 06 23 June 23 1777Belmont Goochland County Virginia U S DiedAugust 4 1825 1825 08 04 aged 48 Chesterfield Missouri U S SpouseNancy Opie BallRelationsEdward brother James brother see Bates extended familyChildrenEmily Caroline 1820 1891 Lucius Lee 1821 1898 Woodville 1823 1840 and Frederick Jr 1826 1862 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Marriage and family 4 Legacy and honors 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editFrederick Bates was born in 1777 into the enslaver class in Goochland County Virginia Though a Quaker Bates and his family were lifelong slaveholders Bates was schooled privately at his family s Belmont plantation by tutors Later he went to college and read the law with an established firm He settled in Detroit in 1797 and became its first postmaster in 1803 1 He was a member of the Bates family along with his brothers Edward and James Woodson Bates 2 Career editAfter working as an attorney Bates started his political career when appointed as a justice of the Territorial Supreme Court for Michigan Territory in Detroit He received a significant promotion when the Aaron Burr conspiracy was uncovered In February 1807 while Bates was in Washington President Thomas Jefferson appointed him to be Secretary of the Louisiana Territory as well as a recorder of land titles 3 As secretary he was also commander in chief of the militia 4 He held this position in St Louis until 1812 Bates helped determine whether conflicting French Spanish and American land claims in the territory would be upheld as it had been subject to three differing political systems 5 Jefferson had already decided on the returning explorer and fellow Virginian Meriwether Lewis as governor of the huge new Louisiana Territory which approximately equaled the size of the existing United States Bates preceded Lewis to St Louis and became a powerful political force in the new territory he was a political rival of Lewis until the latter s death while traveling from St Louis to Washington on business in 1809 Later as Secretary of the newly formed Missouri Territory 1812 1821 he became acting governor in the frequent absences of Territorial Governor William Clark 3 In the August 1824 election Bates was elected the second governor of Missouri He died in office in August 1825 in Chesterfield Missouri due to a short illness thought to be pneumonia Bates was buried at the family cemetery on the Thornhill estate near St Louis Marriage and family edit nbsp Main house at Thornhill Governor Bates estate In 1819 Bates married Nancy Opie Ball 1802 1877 daughter of a wealthy Virginia colonel The couple had four children Emily Caroline 1820 1891 Lucius Lee 1821 1898 Woodville 1823 1840 and Frederick Jr 1826 1862 6 During his time in Missouri Bates acquired nearly 1000 acres 4 km2 of land which he called Thornhill He also acquired several enslaved men women and children He had built a Federal style home with high ceilings for summer ventilation fine woodwork and a sophisticated floor plan all this would have been familiar to Bates from his childhood home Belmont in Goochland County Virginia The Thornhill estate still exists today and can be viewed by the public It is located in Faust County Park in Chesterfield Missouri Legacy and honors editGovernor Bates is the namesake of Bates County Missouri 7 References edit Dunbar Willis F amp May George S 3d ed 1995 Michigan A History of the Wolverine State p 113 Wm B Eerdmans Publishing Co Mercer Thomas 1990 Bates A Familial Journey Boston Herald Publ a b William E Foley 12 March 2014 The Genesis of Missouri From Wilderness Outpost to Statehood University of Missouri Press pp 215 ISBN 978 0 8262 6053 6 Salter William The life of Henry Dodge from 1782 to 1833 with portrait by George Catlin and maps of the battles of the Pecatonica and Wisconsin Heights in the Black Hawk War American West Adam Matthew Digital p 3 Retrieved 5 April 2023 Henry Putney Beers 1 December 1989 French and Spanish Records of Louisiana A Bibliographical Guide to Archive and Manuscript Sources LSU Press pp 281 ISBN 978 0 8071 2793 3 William Smith Bryan Macgunnigle 1 June 2009 Rhode Island Freemen 1747 1755 Genealogical Publishing Com pp 131 ISBN 978 0 8063 0753 4 Eaton David Wolfe 1916 How Missouri Counties Towns and Streams Were Named The State Historical Society of Missouri pp 208 External links edit nbsp Biography portal Frederick Bates at Find a Grave National Governors Association profile Political offices Preceded byAlexander McNair Governor of Missouri1824 1825 Succeeded byAbraham J Williams Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frederick Bates politician amp oldid 1178338465, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
