Joseph Bates

Born on July 8, 1792, in Massachusetts, Joseph Bates spent much of his early life at sea and became a captain before turning to religious work. After leaving his maritime career, he became known as a revivalist minister and reform advocate, especially for health and temperance.

Bates is best remembered as one of the key founders of Sabbatarian Adventism, the stream of Adventist belief that later developed into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He strongly promoted observance of the seventh-day Sabbath and worked closely with other early Adventist figures as the movement took shape in the mid-19th century.

He died on March 19, 1872. Today he is remembered as a determined and energetic pioneer whose preaching, writing, and organizing helped give early Adventism its distinctive identity.