Elbridge Gerry (1744 – 1814)
Vice President, Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation from Massachusetts
Elbridge Gerry, born July 17, 1744, in Marblehead, Massachusetts, was a successful merchant and influential statesman whose career spanned the Revolutionary era through the early Republic. Educated at Harvard College, he graduated in 1762 and later earned a master’s degree with a thesis opposing the Stamp Act. Joining his father’s prosperous shipping business, Gerry became one of the wealthiest men among the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
His political career began in the early 1770s, when local committees opposed British policies, quickly elevating him to a leadership position in Massachusetts. Gerry served in the Provincial Congress and on the Committee of Safety, narrowly escaping British troops on the night of Paul Revere’s ride. In 1776, he was elected to the Second Continental Congress, where John Adams praised his zeal for independence. Gerry voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence, later also signing the Articles of Confederation, making him one of only sixteen men to sign both. Throughout his congressional service, he gained recognition as a diligent legislator and advocate for soldiers’ welfare, though also a reputation for political independence and stubbornness.
In 1787, Gerry attended the Constitutional Convention but, fearing centralized power, refused to sign the final document. Despite his Anti-Federalist leanings, he later served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1789–1793) and supported key Federalist financial measures. His diplomatic career included the ill-fated mission to France during the XYZ Affair (1797–98).
Shifting to the Republican camp by 1800, Gerry was elected Governor of Massachusetts twice (1810–1812). His controversial support for partisan redistricting gave rise to the enduring term “gerrymander.” In 1812, President James Madison selected him as his running mate, and Gerry became the fifth Vice President of the United States, serving during the War of 1812.
Elbridge Gerry died in office on November 23, 1814, in Washington, D.C., while on his way to preside over the Senate. He was buried in the Congressional Cemetery, where his monument honors his service as Vice President. Although often seen as a political maverick, Gerry was widely respected for his patriotism, integrity, and independent thought.
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