Horatio Gates ( born Horatio Gates ; 1727 , Moldon , Essex , England - April 10, 1806 , New York ) - American military commander, participant in the War of Independence in North America.
| Horatio Gates | |
|---|---|
 portrait of Gilbert Stuart | |
| Date of Birth | July 26, 1727 |
| Place of Birth | Moldon , Essex , England |
| Date of death | April 10, 1806 (78 years old) |
| A place of death | New York , USA |
| Type of army | ground troops |
| Years of service | 1745-1769 (Great Britain) 1775-1783 (USA) |
| Rank | major (UK) Major General (USA) |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards and prizes | US Congress Gold Medal |
Biography
He served in the British army, participated in the war with the French and Indians .
In 1772 he settled in Virginia, supported the struggle of the colonists for their rights. In 1775 he headed the administrative-combat service of the Continental Army (1775), then replaced General Philip Skyler as commander of the Northern Army in New York (1777). With the help of Benedict Arnold achieved the surrender of the British forces under the command of John Burgoyne in the battle of Saratoga (1777).
Gates was implicated in the Thomas Conway conspiracy to remove George Washington from the post of commander of the Continental Army. The conspirators wanted to make Gates the new commander. After the failure of the conspiracy, he returned to his troops in New York.
In 1780, he led the Southern Army, tried to oppose Charles Cornwallis in the southern states, but was defeated in the battle of Camden (South Carolina) and removed from command. The reasons for the defeat were investigated by a special commission that did not indict Gates.
At the end of the war he lived on a plantation in Virginia, in 1790 freed his slaves and settled in New York.