'''William Henry Gates Senior''' (né le avocat américain, dans les domaines des affaires et de l'humanisme international, co-fondateur d'un des cent plus importants et prestigieux cabinets d'avocat des États-Unis. Philanthrope et humaniste. Il est le père de Bill Gates (fondateur de Microsoft), membre de l'American Academy of Arts and Sciences et co-président de la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates fondé par son fils Bill et sa belle-fille Melinda en 2000 

== Biographie ==

Il naît le Washington et passe sa jeunesse dans le scoutisme américain.

Il porte le même nom que son père William Henry Gates et que son fils William Henry Gates III.

Après le lycée, en armée américaine pour la Seconde Guerre mondiale jusqu'à la fin du conflit en novembre 1946 où il est rendu à la vie civile avec les honneurs militaires.

Il suit des études de droit à l'Washington (financées par l'armée américaine en tant que héros vétéran volontaire), ou il rencontre sa future épouse Mary Maxwell Gates.

Il obtient ses diplômes de avocat en avocat.

Il co-fonde son cabinet de juriste et d'avocat d'affaire internationales [http://www.prestongates.com/ Preston Gates & Ellis] en avocats juristes des États-Unis.

La société Microsoft fondée par son fils Bill Gates en 1975, est le plus important de ses clients et lui rapporte plus d'1 milliard de dollars d'honoraires et de chiffre d'affaires.

{{Infobox Person
|name        = William H. Gates, Sr.
|image       = Replace this image male.svg
|caption     = 
|birth_date  = 
|birth_place = Bremerton, Washington, USA
|other_names = 
|known_for   = 
|occupation  = retired attorney
}}
'''William Henry Gates, Sr.''' (born '''William Henry Gates III'''<!-- THIS IS CORRECT, AS EXPLAINED BELOW. --> on American attorney and philanthropist. He is the father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

==Biography==
Gates was born in Atlanta, Georgia to William Henry Gates II or Jr., later Sr. (Bremerton, Washington, March 14, 1891 &ndash; Bremerton, Washington, August 17, 1969), and wife (married c. 1913) Lillian Elizabeth Rice (Bremerton, Washington, 1891 &ndash; Bremerton, Washington, November 27, 1966). He was the third in his family to have the same name, his grandfather being the first William Henry Gates. After high school he enlisted in the United States Army, changing his name to William Gates, Jr. to avoid the appearance of elitism.<ref></ref> He fought in World War II and was honorably discharged in November 1946. He attended the University of Washington (UW) under the G.I. Bill, where he earned a B.A. in 1949 and a law degree in 1950. He practiced law until 1998, primarily with the law firm which he co-founded as Shidler & King in 1964, later known as Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, today known as K&L Gates. Gates also served on the board of Planned Parenthood.<ref>[http://archive.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/01/cov_29feature2.html Salon 21st | Is Bill Gates a closet liberal? page 2<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_gates.html NOW with Bill Moyers. Transcript. Bill Moyers Interviews Bill Gates. 5.09.03 | PBS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In 1998, Gates retired from PGE. He currently serves on the Melinda founded. He has adopted the suffix "Sr." to distinguish himself from his more famous son.

Gates is co-author, with estate tax.<ref>[http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/hm031/2002011326.html Library of Congress]</ref>

He married Kristi (Kristianne), Bill, and Libby. In 1996 Gates married Mimi Gardner Gates, who is director of the Seattle Art Museum.