General Sir Henry Bates KCB (1813 – 2 March 1893) was a senior officer in the British Army.

[1] He was born the eldest son of Major Bates of the Royal Marines and educated at Charterhouse School.

In 1836 he transferred to the 82nd Foot and was promoted Captain in 1845, having spent 3 years in the West Indies on the staff of Lt.-General Samuel Ford Whittingham.

He spent 21 years in India as a staff officer, including terms as aide-de-camp to Sir Robert Henry Dick (killed 1846) and Sir Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough.

In 1871 he was appointed a Commissioner for the abolition of purchase (of officer commissions) in the Army, the following year made Lieutenant-General, and in 1873 awarded C.B.