Joseph Bates (Adventist)

Joseph Bates
Born: Rochester, an adjoining town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts July 8, 1792
Died: Battle Creek, Mich., March 19, 1872
Ocupation: Sailor

Was probably the greatest worker after James and Ellen White in building up the early (Seventh-Day) Adventist church.

During his life as a sailor he came to believe very strongly in several basic Adventist beliefs. He became disturbed by the way the sailors (regardless of their religion) were forced to go to Anglican services; later in life he became adamant that the separation of church and state should be upheld. He also was a strong supporter of abolition. In his every day life as a sailor he noticed the intemperance of the sailors and the resulting side effects. Many of these problems came from poor rations but many more were the result of overindulgence by the men. He became one of the champions of health reform; abstaining from all alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, even becoming a vegetarian.

Extracted mainly from: Bates autobiography Resume of biography

Image of Bates: Drawing of Joseph Bates