William Leist Readwin Cates (12 November 1821 – 9 December 1895) was an English lawyer and compiler of reference works.
The eldest son of Robert Gates, a solicitor of Fakenham, Norfolk, and his wife, Mary Ann Readwin, was born there on 12 November 1821.
He was educated for the law under a private tutor, and after passing his examinations at London University went to Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.
He subsequently moved to Gravesend for about a year, but, failing to establish a practice, took an appointment in 1844 as articled clerk to John Barfield, a solicitor at Thatcham, Berkshire.
[1] Failing health compelled Cates to leave London in September 1887 for Hayes, near Uxbridge, where he died on 9 December 1895.