Horatio Gates
British-born American army officer (1727-1806)
Horatio Lloyd Gates was a British-born army officer, who served in the British Army and as a general in the Continental Army during the early years of the American War for Independence. He took credit for the American victory in the Battles of Saratoga (1777), matters of contemporary and historical controversy, and was blamed for the disastrous defeat by the British at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina in 1780. Gates has been described as "one of the Revolution's most controversial military figures" because of his role in the Conway Cabal, which attempted to discredit and replace General George Washington as commander in chief; the battle at Saratoga; and his actions before, during, and after his defeat at Camden.