Joseph Brooks Yates

Joseph Brooks Yates (1780–1855) was an English merchant and antiquary.

Born at Liverpool on 21 January 1780, he was the eldest son of John Yates, minister of the Unitarian chapel in Paradise Street, Liverpool. His brothers were John Ashton Yates (1781–1863), M.P. for Carlow and author of pamphlets on trade and slavery; Richard Vaughan Yates (1785–1856), founder of Prince's Park, Liverpool; James Yates; and Pemberton Heywood Yates (1791–1822). He was educated by William Shepherd and at Eton College.

On leaving Eton, about 1796, Yates entered the house of a West India merchant, in which he became a partner; he continued in it until a year or two before he died. He was one of the leading reformers of Liverpool, and a supporter of its literary and scientific institutions. In February 1812 he joined with Thomas Stewart Traill in founding the Liverpool Literary and Philosophical Society, of which he was president during four triennial periods, and a frequent reader of papers at its meetings. He was also one of the founders of the Southern and Toxteth Hospital in Liverpool. In 1854 he acted as local vice-president of the British Association at the Liverpool meeting.

Yates was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London on 18 April 1852, and was also Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He was a Member of Council of the Chetham Society from 1852 to 1855, and an original Member of the Philological Society. He collected pictures and a library containing some fine manuscripts and emblem books, and was an occasional contributor to literary and other journals.

Yates died at West Dingle, near Liverpool, on 12 December 1855, and was buried in the graveyard of the old Unitarian chapel, Toxteth Park.

Yates's portrait, painted by Philip Westcott, was presented to him in January 1852 by members of the Liverpool Literary and Philosophical Society, and placed in the Royal Institution of Liverpool.

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