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James B. Yates, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters view, seated in chair at desk, between 1856 and 1858. Secretary to the Liberian Senate. The son of Beverly Page Yates, James B. Yates was born in the colony of Liberia. He married Margaret Coker, daughter of the Reverend Philip Coker, but was left a widower when his young wife died in August 1862. Having earlier served as secretary to the Liberian Senate, Yates was first elected to Liberia's House of Representatives from Montserrado County in 1865. He was subsequently appointed treasurer of the republic by President James Skivring Smith in 1871, and next served as Liberia's postmaster general under President Joseph Jenkins Roberts. Yates was also active in Monrovia's Trinity Church, where he was elected to the posts of vestryman and church treasurer.