Bill Gates

William “Bill” H. Gates: The Man with Windows

William “Bill” H. Gates was born on born on October 28, 1955 to William Henry Gates, Jr. and the late Mary Gates at Seattle Washington’s Swedish Hospital. Gates is the second born of three children; Kristi is the first-born, she is a year older then Bill, and Libby, is the third born and is nine years younger. Bill follows in his ancestral lineage by being a successful executive.

“His grandfather established his own furniture business… [His] father created a newspaper with classified ads and a sports section that was so respected for its accuracy it won him seats in the press box at local games…and become a corporate lawyer…. [His mother Mary] was very active socially and politically…[she was a ] board member of Berkshire Hathaway, First Interstate Bank, Pacific Northwest Bell and the national board of United Way.” (W.H.G.III 1-4)

Gates was very energetic as a child; from rocking his cradle to extreme curiosity of the world around him, he never stopped. He was extremely interested in the flourishing aerospace industry and the 1962 World Fair. While he was at the World Fair, he met what would ultimately be his life long career, a computer. At the time, it was comparable to what we would consider excellent now: the UNIVAC. “As a young child, he was extremely smart, surpassing all his classmates. By the time he was nine…young Gates had already read the entire world Book Encyclopedia!” (Encarta 2)

Gates’ school experience was not a normal one. He was one of the brightest in his class and he had an inversed attitude to match. By the time he was in third grade his intelligence had altogether been coupled with extreme behavioral problems and at times emotional immaturity. As time passed his parents worried more and more because his talkative and extremely sarcastic personality was keeping him away from what they knew he was capable of doing. Eventually, his parents ended up sending Gates to a psychiatrist, which was one of the best things they could do because “[it] opened up is mind to a new way of thinking.” (Gates: Road pg 35) His parents knew Gates was smarter then he seemed so they looked for a way to channel his intelligence. They decided to send him to Lakeside School, an all boys reformatory. While he was their, he got involved in the Contemporary Club, which would help him in the future.