English missionary and author, born, according to some authorities, in Surrey, England, according to others, in Limerick, Ireland; died in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1655. He was educated for the Roman Catholic priesthood in the order of the Dominicans in Spain. He went to Mexico with a party of friars, and was placed in charge of a wealthy parish, where he devoted himself to getting riches rather than to his ministry. When he had accumulated a large fortune he deserted his people, and after a roundabout journey through Central America, sailed from Costa Rica for England. There he renounced Catholicism and wrote an account of his adventures in Mexico and a description of the Spanish possessions. This account, entitled English-American Description of the West Indies (1648), attracted much comment and was translated into several languages. Until the time of its publication no information about Mexico and the West Indies had been permitted by Spain to be published. Desiring to secure some of the riches described in Gage’s book, Cromwell fitted out an expedition against the West Indies, under Admirals Penn and Venables. This expedition captured the island of Jamaica, but gained no strong foothold. Gage accompanied the expedition in the capacity of guide.
