Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Tate, William
TATE, WILLIAM (1750?–1806), portrait-painter, was born about 1750, probably at Liverpool. He studied under Joseph Wright [q. v.] of Derby, practised as a portrait-painter in Liverpool, and in 1774 was an exhibitor at the first and only exhibition of the Society of Artists of that town. In 1784 he took part in forming a second society, and had seven portraits and one subject-picture ('Belisarius and his Daughter') in their first exhibition (1784). In their second exhibition (1787) he was again represented. Meanwhile he had removed to Manchester, after, it is said, a short residence in London. He was a member of the Incorporated Society, exhibiting twelve portraits there, as well as twelve at the Royal Academy, between 1771 and 1804. From Manchester he removed to Bath, where he died on 2 June 1806.
[Bryan's Dict. of Painters; Mayer's Early Art in Liverpool; Gent. Mag. 1806. ii. 677.]