Cadwallader Bates

Cadwallader John Bates (14 January 1853 – 18 March 1902) was a historian and antiquarian who focused on Northumberland.

Life

Family provenance Cadwallader Bates was born at Kensington Gate on the west side of London. His father, Thomas Bates (1810–1882) was a Northumberland gentleman-farmer with land in the Hexham area. Thomas Bates was also a lawyer, and had been a fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge between 1834 and 1849. The Bates family had been based in England's northern border regions for five centuries, and in the nineteenth century they were a prosperous family. who had been a famously successful stockbreeder: after his death his herd of 68 shorthorn cattle had been sold for over £4,500 in 1850.

Education Bates entered Eton College in 1866. However, problems with his eyes obliged him to leave after two years. He then, in 1869, started a degree course at his father's old college, Jesus College, Cambridge. His eye problems again intervened, preventing him from taking his Tripos exams in the normal way. He accordingly received, in 1871, an "Aegrotat" degree in Moral Sciences, which was at that time a recently introduced degree subject at Cambridge.

County and commercial duties In 1882 Thomas Bates died and Cadwallader inherited his father's estates. From now on, Cadwallader Bates would have less time available for overseas travel. No fewer than four of his uncles had predeceased Thomas Bates, dying without direct heirs of their own, and apparently leaving their wealth to Cadwallader. This included his uncle Edward Bates who had left him Schloss Clöden in Brandenburg. In addition to extensive, mostly rough, farmland in the north of England, his inherited assets in England included a valuable share in Heddon Colliery where he had already worked in the colliery office.

The writer The footprint Cadwallader Bates left on history is in large measure due to his work as an historian and antiquarian. He started many books on aspects of Northumberland, most of which he finished. His particular focus was on the Medieval period. There would be no surviving children from the marriage, however.

In March 1902 Bates suffered a heart attack and died very suddenly at his Langley Castle home. His widow continued to live at the castle and to concern herself with its restoration till her own death three decades later.