Background
The eldest son of Robert Gates, a solicitor of Fakenham, Norfolk, and his wife, Mary Ann Readwin, was born there on 12 November 1821.
The eldest son of Robert Gates, a solicitor of Fakenham, Norfolk, and his wife, Mary Ann Readwin, was born there on 12 November 1821.
He was educated for the law under a private tutor, and after passing his examinations at London University went to Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.
He subsequently moved to Gravesend for about a year, but, failing to establish a practice, took an appointment in 1844 as articled clerk to John Barfield, a solicitor at Thatcham, Berkshire. Cates abandoned the legal profession, first for private tuition, and then to write. In 1848 he was at Wilmslow, Cheshire, and some years later at Didsbury, near Manchester.
Failing health compelled Cates to leave London in September 1887 for Hayes, near Uxbridge, where he died on 9 December 1895.
On 25 July 1845 Cates married Catherine, daughter of Aquila Robins of Holt, Norfolk.
(Lang:- English, Pages 99. Reprinted in 2013 with the help...)