Background
James Bates was a United States Representative from Maine.
James Bates was a United States Representative from Maine.
There James Bates obtained such education as was possible in the local schools. At twenty-one he entered on the study of medicine with a Fayette physician and with Dr. Ariel Mann of Hallowell. He then took the course given by the Harvard Medical School.
In 1813 he joined the medical department of the army and remained there till May 1815, prolonging his service that he might bring the 700 patients under his charge to a condition in which they could make the journey home with safety.
For four years he practised at Hallowell, Me. , and for twenty-six at Norridgewock, Maine. In 1830 he was elected to Congress on the Democratic ticket and served one term. His chief activities were in relation to the tariff and nullification controversy.
In 1845 he was made superintendent of the insane asylum at Augusta, Maine. In December 1850, part of the asylum was burned with a loss of twenty-eight lives. A coroner's jury found that the fire was due to the faulty construction of an air-chamber planned by Bates. In January 1851, the Governor of Maine appointed him a commissioner to examine the methods of heating and ventilating used in public institutions of other states. He accepted the position and resigned his office of superintendent.
His investigations were fruitful and the commissioners for rebuilding the hospital adopted many suggestions made by him. He then resumed private practise chiefly in Fairfield and North Yarmouth. When about eighty he withdrew from practise but lived twelve years longer, dying in full possession of his faculties at the age of ninety-two.
Bates was a vigorous supporter of the compromise, he moved a postponement of the "force tariff bill, " and announced that both he and his constituents were opposed to protection, knowing that it did them more harm as consumers than it did good to them as producers.
He was married on July 27, 1815, to Mary Jones of Fayette.