Ernest F. Gates was born in New London, Connecticut to C. Robert and Emily H. Gates. His father was a woodworker, and owned a pattern shop at 59 Howard Street in New London.

Ernest Gates was a letter carrier, but his primary interest and avocation was "whaling." He was Curator of the "Museum" of the Jibboom Club No. 1 in New London, a social organization begun in the 1870's by local whaling captains, that had been reorganized in 1891. As Curator, Gates jealously guarded all donations to the club; carefully labeling and trying to authenticate the artifacts. He was quick to refuse a donation that was not up to his standards, and at times was even turned out of office for a while, but was soon reinstated because no one else could give as much time, care, and energy to the club rooms and its exhibits as he.

He was also a voluminous letter writer, and during the 1930's became friends with Captain William Tripp, a whaling man and Director of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society and Whaling Museum. Gates also corresponded frequently with George H. Reynolds, a New Bedford printer, who along with Tripp, was anxious to save the whale ship CHARLES W. MORGAN from destruction after the death of Colonel E. H. R. Green, who had brought the vessel to his property at Round Hill. During 1940-1941 these three men campaigned to have the MORGAN brought to New Bedford and established as a historical exhibit. The campaign failed to raise the necessary funds for such a move, and late in 1941 the vessel was give to the Marine Historical Association (Mystic Seaport Museum). Gates was critical of Mystic's initial efforts to care for the ship, but gradually came to appreciate what was required to keep the vessel in good condition.

As feisty and quick to criticize as he was, Ernest Gates was honestly committed to the preservation of anything to do with the whaling industry. The collection over which he presided, some of which is now in Mystic Seaport Museum, was as authentic as he could possibly make it. He died in 1969.