Born in
Philadelphia, Gates was a student at
Germantown Academy and
University of Pennsylvania. He went into banking and eventually served as a director of several companies, including the
Pennsylvania Railroad, the
Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company, the
Baldwin Locomotive Company, and more. Before his election as university president, Gates had served for ten years as a Trustee of the University and as Chairman of the University of Pennsylvania Fund. Gates was heavily involved in plans for the development of the new Valley Forge campus for the University; however, the idea was eventually dropped in favor of expanding Penn's West Philadelphia campus, not before currying strong support. He worked to fund and create a number of other facilities throughout the university. == References ==