Richard Tate was Alden's father and former leader of the First Sons. In one of John White's Dead Drops on the background history of the First Sons, he states that soon after the Civil War, Richard Tate arrived to create the First Sons as society knows them today. Tate, inspired by the work of Thomas Edison, was determined to create what is now the Ray Sphere. Richard groomed Alden from a young age to take control of the organization, but Kessler arrived and staged a coup. Richard presumably perished in the coup as Alden is left homeless on the streets and vows revenge on Kessler for his crime. Kessler seemed to have some respect for Richard, commenting to Alden how his father would be so displeased to see what he has done.