Merrill Edwards Gates (April 6, 1848 – August 11, 1922) was the ninth President of Rutgers College (now Rutgers University) serving from 1882 to 1890, and the sixth President of Amherst College, serving from 1890 to 1899.

Upon his return to the United States, he was offered the post of Chancellor of the University of Tennessee but declined and remained in Albany.

He went abroad again in 1879, spending a year in travel and study in France, Italy, Egypt, Palestine, and Greece.

[3] During his tenure as President of Rutgers College, which began in 1882, Gates built the college's first dormitory, Winants Hall (completed in 1890) named for Garrett E. Winants, and New Jersey Hall (funded by the state), which was used for instruction in chemistry and biology (now home of the economics department).

He remained in Washington, DC presenting lectures and serving literary and philanthropic societies, and preaching in the Congregational Church.