Edward Bates
Miscellaneous

Edward Bates Net Worth

Edward Bates was a prominent U.S. lawyer and politician who was born in 1793 in Goochland County, Virginia. He was the first Attorney General of Missouri after it became a state and was a socially conscious man who was against the practice of slavery. He received a good education and studied law, and was elected to the house of representatives. He was even nominated to become the presidential candidate of the Republican Party, though he ultimately supported Abraham Lincoln. Bates was made the Attorney General under Lincoln and was known for his courage and outspokenness. He was also a dedicated family man with several children.
Edward Bates is a member of Miscellaneous

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Lawyer
Birth Day September 04, 1793
Birth Place Goochland County, Virginia, U.S., United States
Age 226 YEARS OLD
Died On March 25, 1869(1869-03-25) (aged 75)\nSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Birth Sign Libra
President Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Rufus Easton
Political party Democratic-Republican Whig Republican
Relations Benjamin, Frederick, James; see Bates extended family
Profession Lawyer, Politician
Service/branch Volunteer
Rank sergeant
Battles/wars War of 1812

💰 Net worth: $1.5 Million (2024)

Edward Bates, a prominent lawyer in the United States, is believed to have a net worth of approximately $1.5 million by the year 2024. Throughout his illustrious career, Bates has established himself as a highly skilled and successful legal professional. With his vast knowledge of the law and his unparalleled dedication to his clients, Bates has been able to accumulate significant wealth over the years. As a well-known figure in the legal community, Edward Bates continues to thrive and make significant contributions to the field of law in the United States.

Biography/Timeline

1812

Edward Bates served in the War of 1812 before moving to St. Louis, Missouri Territory, in 1814 with his older brother James, who started working as an attorney. Their eldest brother Frederick Bates was already in St. Louis by that time, where he had served as Secretary of the Louisiana Territory and Secretary of the Missouri Territory.

1816

Bates's private practice partner was Joshua Barton, who was appointed as the first Missouri Secretary of State. Barton became infamous for fighting duels on Bloody Island (Mississippi River). In 1816 Bates was the second to Barton in a duel with Thomas Hempstead, brother of Edward Hempstead, the Missouri Territory's first Congressional representative. The fight ended without bloodshed. Barton was killed in a duel on the island in 1823.

1817

In 1817, the two organized the James Ferry, which ran from St. Charles, Missouri to Alton, Illinois. Easton had founded the latter town, naming it after his first son Alton.

1820

Bates's first foray into politics came in 1820, with election as a member of the state's constitutional convention. He wrote the preamble to the state constitution—an honor that later influenced his fight against the radical Missouri Constitution of 1865. He next was appointed as the new state's Attorney General.

1822

In 1822, Bates was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives for a single term (1827–1829). Next, he was elected to the State Senate from 1831 to 1835, then to the Missouri House from 1835. He ran for the U.S. Senate, but lost to Democrat Thomas Hart Benton.

1840

Bates became a prominent member of the Whig Party during the 1840s, where his political philosophy closely resembled that of Henry Clay. While a slaveholder, during this time, Bates became interested in the case of the slave Polly Berry, who in 1843 gained her freedom decades after having been held illegally in the free state of Illinois for several months.

1850

After the breakup of the Whig Party in the 1850s, he briefly joined the Know-Nothing Party but Bates became a Republican, and was one of the four main candidates for the party's 1860 presidential nomination. He received support from Horace Greeley, who later switched to support Abraham Lincoln. The next year, after winning the election, Lincoln appointed Bates United States Attorney General, an office Bates held from 1861 until 1864. Bates was the first Cabinet member appointed from west of the Mississippi River.

1864

Bates's tenure as Attorney General generally met with mixed reviews. On the one hand, he was important in carrying out some of Lincoln's earlier war policies, including the arbitrary arrest of southern sympathizers and seditious northerners. On the other hand, as Lincoln's policies became more radical, Bates became increasingly irrelevant. Bates disagreed with Lincoln on emancipation and the recruitment of blacks into the Union Army. In 1864, Lincoln nominated Salmon P. Chase to be Chief Justice, an office Bates had wanted. Bates then resigned and was succeeded by James Speed, a Kentucky Lawyer with Radical Republican views.

1865

Bates returned to Missouri after leaving the cabinet. He participated in the conservative struggle against the adoption of the Missouri constitution of 1865. Bates particularly objected to the "ironclad oath" required as a proof of loyalty, and the temporary disfranchisement of rebel sympathizers. He wrote seven essays arguing against the constitution, but it was ratified nonetheless.

1869

Bates then retired from politics, although he commented on political events in the local newspapers. He died in St. Louis in 1869 and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Some Edward Bates images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.