William Yates, (December 10, 1720 – October 5, 1764) was a

clergyman Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

in the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

, educator, fifth president of the

College of William & Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III ...

William & Mary — 18th Century Presidents
. Retrieved on April 9, 2010. and is the namesake for Yates Hall on the College's campus.

Biography

William Yates was born on December 10, 1720 in

Gloucester County, Virginia Gloucester County () is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,711. Its county seat is Gloucester Courthouse. The county was founded in 1651 in the Virginia Colony and is named for Henry Stuart, ...

.Stanard, p. 94 He died on October 5, 1764 in

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula ...

and is buried at the Abingdon Episcopal Church Cemetery in

White Marsh, Virginia White Marsh is an unincorporated community in Gloucester County, in the U. S. state of Virginia. White Marsh is located on U.S. Route 17 south of Gloucester Courthouse. White Marsh has a post office with ZIP code 23183. Abingdon Church and the ...

. He was the fourth child and the second son of Rev. Bartholomew Yates,Stanard, p. 94 a 1698 graduate of

Brasenose College Brasenose College (BNC) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It began as Brasenose Hall in the 13th century, before being founded as a college in 1509. The library and chapel were added in the m ...

. He was the long term minister of Christ Church parish, Middlesex, Virginia and continued in that place until his death. He was appointed a visitor of William & Mary in 1723, and Professor of Divinity in 1729. His mother was Sarah Stanard, the daughter of William Stanard of

Middlesex County, Virginia Middlesex County is a county located on the Middle Peninsula in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,625. Its county seat is Saluda. History This area was long settled by indigenous peoples; those encount ...

.Saunders, p. 371 He educated at William & Mary, at which he was elected usher of the grammar school on April 10, 1744. He was ordained by

Edmund Gibson Edmund Gibson (16696 September 1748) was a British divine who served as Bishop of Lincoln and Bishop of London, jurist, and antiquary. Early life and career He was born in Bampton, Westmorland. In 1686 he was entered a scholar at Queen's Coll ...

Bishop of London A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

on Apr. 1, 1745. He served as Anglican clergyman at the following parishes: James City Parish, James City, Virginia;

Bruton Parish Bruton Parish Church is located in the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. It was established in 1674 by the consolidation of two previous parishes in the Virginia Colony, and remains an active Epis ...

, Williamsburg, Virginia; and Abington Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. He was also a member of Governor's Council. He ascended to the presidency as the Board of Visitors attempted to wield greater influence over the College. President Yates largely complied with the wishes of the Visitors, and the College expanded the faculty during this time.Saunders, p. 371 He married Elizabeth A. Randolph, who was born in 1724 and died in 1783. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Graves and

Edward Randolph Edward Randolph (~October 1690 – after 1756), sometimes referred to as Edward Randolph of Bremo, was a ship captain, a London tobacco merchant, and the seventh and youngest son of William Randolph and Mary Isham. Biography In 1713, Randolph ...

. He was the son of

William Randolph William Randolph I (bapt. 7 November 1650 – 11 April 1711) was a planter, merchant and politician in colonial Virginia who played an important role in the development of the colony. Born in Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire, Randolph moved to the ...

, a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the

Commonwealth of Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United Stat ...

. He and his wife, Mary Isham, are referred to as the "Adam and Eve" of Virginia. William and Elizabeth were the parents of:Saunders, p. 371 Edmund Randolph Yates, who attended William & Mary in 1762; served as a Lt. in

Peter Muhlenberg John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (October 1, 1746October 1, 1807) was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly independent United States. A Lutheranism, Lutheran minis ...

's company 1779.; Elizabeth Yates who married Rev. William Bland, the son of

Richard Bland Richard Bland (May 6, 1710 – October 26, 1776), sometimes referred to as Richard Bland II or Richard Bland of Jordan's Point, was an American Founding Father, planter and statesman from Virginia. A cousin and early mentor of Thomas Jeffers ...

; William Yates, a 1764 graduate of the College of William and Mary and said to have served on General

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

's staff and was a Colonel in the department of muster-master-general in the Revolutionary War, but not officially reported, however; was Justice,

Amelia County, Virginia Amelia County is a county located just southwest of Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. The county is located in Central Virginia and is included in the Greater Richmond Region. Its county seat is Amelia Court House. Amel ...

; and Clara Yates, who married first a Mr. Bland and second Robert Bolling, a First Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War and a great-grandson of the 17th century immigrant Robert Bolling. Another daughter, Lucy Yates, married Rev. Thomas Lundie, rector of St. Andrew's Parish in Brunswick, Va. Yates is the namesake of a residence hall at William & Mary.

Descendants

* Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow, a

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made h ...

winning American

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

. *

Roger Atkinson Pryor Roger Atkinson Pryor (July 19, 1828 – March 14, 1919) was a Virginian newspaper editor and politician who became known for his fiery oratory in favor of secession; he was elected both to national and Confederate office, and served as a gen ...

, was both an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

politician and a

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

politician serving as a congressman on both sides.
He was also a

jurist A jurist is a person with expert knowledge of law; someone who analyses and comments on law. This person is usually a specialist legal scholar, mostly (but not always) with a formal qualification in law and often a legal practitioner. In the Uni ...

, serving in the

New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in the New York State Unified Court System. (Its Appellate Division is also the highest intermediate appellate court.) It is vested with unlimited civ ...

, a lawyer, and newspaper editor. Pryor is also known for being a

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. *

Luke Pryor Luke Pryor (July 5, 1820August 5, 1900) was a United States Senate, U.S. senator from the U.S. state, state of Alabama. He was appointed to fill the Senate term left by the death of George S. Houston and served from January 7 to November 23, 1880, ...

, was a

U.S. senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

from the

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

Notes

References

*Saunders, Col. James Edmonds'
Early settlers of Alabama
Part 1'' New Orleans. Publisher: L. Graham & Son, Ltd., 1899. * Primary source materials, including Bible records, Wills, Deeds and other documents at the Jamestowne Society of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

External links

The history of the College of William and Mary from its foundation, 1660, to 1874.
Publisher: College of William and Mary, (1874).
College of William and Mary

Yates Hall
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yates, William 1720 births 1764 deaths 18th-century American Episcopal priests College of William & Mary alumni College of William & Mary faculty Presidents of the College of William & Mary People from Gloucester County, Virginia Virginia Governor's Council members Virginia colonial people 18th-century American politicians