Nathaniel H. Gates

Nathaniel H. Gates
Oregon state legislator N. H. Gates
Speaker of the Oregon Territory House of Representatives
In office
December 6, 1858  February 13, 1859
Preceded byIra F. M. Butler
Succeeded byPosition abolished
William G. T'Vault
as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
Member of the Oregon Territory House of Representatives
In office
1855–1859
ConstituencyWasco County
Member of the Oregon Senate
from the 27 district
In office
1880–1883
Preceded byS. G. Thompson
Succeeded byC. S. Cartwright
ConstituencyLake and Wasco counties
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 55 district
In office
1878–1879
Personal details
Born(1811-02-17)February 17, 1811
Washington County, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMay 20, 1889(1889-05-20) (aged 78)
The Dalles, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Mary Koontz
    (m. 1834; died 1868)
  • Mary Shubnel
    (m. 1868)
EducationMuskingum Academy
ProfessionLawyer

Nathaniel Holly Gates, also known as Colonel Gates for most of his life, (1811–1889) was an American pioneer lawyer and Oregon state legislator. He was an active Democrat throughout his life. He served four terms in Oregon's territorial legislature. This included one term as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives during the 1858 legislative session. After Oregon became a state in 1859, he served one two-year term in the Oregon House of Representatives and one four-year term in the Oregon State Senate. Before immigrating to Oregon, Gates lived and worked as a lawyer in Ohio and Iowa. After moving to Oregon, he settled in The Dalles and opened a law practice there. He helped develop that community and served as the city's mayor five times in non-consecutive terms.