Gates
Background
Gates is the quartermaster on The Walrus in the West Indies.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 1 I. played by Mark Ryan
A merchant ship is being attacked by the Walrus. The Walrus catches up to the merchant ship and most of the remaining sailors on the merchant ship are killed. Gates is walking through the merchant ship telling the pirates what to pillage when Joshua tries to scare him. Gates comes to a door that is blocked and when he breaks it down, finds John Silver inside and the Ship's Cook dead. Silver offers to join the crew and says he is very good cook. Gates tells Billy Bones that Silver wants to join the crew. Gates relays to Dufresne what they found on the merchant ship and Dufresne tallies up what they can sell and tells Gates that each pirate will only make 8 dollars. Captain Flint shows Gates the Captain's Log, but Gates notices the page with the schedule is torn out. Dr. Howell tells Flint that Mr. Duffy has died. Singleton is about to torture Parrish when Gates pulls him away.
Gates tells Flint that Singleton has the votes to remove him as captain. The pirates land at Nassau on New Providence Island and Gates goes up to Mr. Scott and tells him that he needs to speak to Eleanor Guthrie. Elanor walks out of her office and tells the room full of pirates that she won't help anyone that runs away from the navy. Sanderson calls her a cunt and when Eleanor finds out how much Sanderson's captain brought in, she ignores the insult and calls Sanderson an earner. Gates tells Eleanor about Singleton trying to take over as captain and asks for a loan. Mr. Scott doesn't think Eleanor should give Gates the money, but Eleanor agrees to give him the money. Gates goes to see Mosiah and tries to convince him to vote for Flint. Later, Joshua tells Gates that Mosiah was murdered and he, Gates, Eleanor and Mr. Scott go to where Joshua found Mosiah's body and he tells them that Mosiah's last word was Vane.
Flint and Billy arrive at The Walrus and Gates tells Flint that the crew has gathered to vote on who will be captain. Flint speaks to the crew that includes Morley and apologizes for their small hauls and tells them the truth of what they have been chasing. He says that a crew member discovered their plans and betrayed them and accuses Singleton of being that person. Gates tells Singleton that he has a choice, a trial or combat and Singleton chooses combat. Flint and Singleton fight and Flint ends up beating Singleton to death. Flint seemingly pulls a piece of paper from Singelton's pockets and hands it to Billy to read. Billy opens the page and says it is the stolen page. Flint tells the crew that he will make them rich and they cheer him.