Richard Yates most commonly refers to: Richard Yates Sr. (1815–1873), 13th governor of Illinois (1861–1865), U.S. Senator from Illinois (1865–1871), U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1851–1855), member of Illinois House of Representatives (1842–1845, 1848–1849) Richard Yates Jr. (1860–1936), son of above, 22nd governor of Illinois (1901–1905), U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1919–1933)