“If every Man here was a Gerry, the Liberties of America would be safe against the Gates of Earth and Hell.” This praise of Elbridge Gerry flowed from the lips of John Adams. Mr. Gerry was a man whose heart was afire with the desire to see America be independent, free from its political entanglement with Great Britain. At the same time, he was also a politician with ever-changing opinions on key issues and a political manipulator for his own gain. 

Born into a wealthy family on July 17, 1744, Elbridge Gerry grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts in the household of Captain Thomas Gerry. Captain Gerry was a successful shipping merchant. He also served as the town’s justice of the peace and served on the local board of leadership. The family was devoutly religious and attended the First Congregational Church. Because of this, they avoided the pretentious trappings of affluency.

With a master’s degree from Harvard, Mr. Gerry entered the family shipping business and began working in the counting house. His father’s business included the ownership and maintenance of a fleet of shipping vessels. The company shipped goods to the Barbados and Spanish ports. The ships returned to Marblehead with monies paid and other goods received. When the British government began enacting taxes on various goods imported into the colonies, the Gerry family was very much opposed to such policies. In fact, Elbridge Gerry wrote his master’s dissertation on proposing American opposition to the Stamp Act.

In 1770, he served on a local committee charged with enforcing a ban on imported, British tea. His father became involved in a Committee of Correspondence, a network of communications amongst the colonists. Elbridge helped his father with producing resolves based on those proposed by Samuel Adams. These resolves addressed the injustices in the relationship between the colonies and England. His involvement in the rebel cause led to his appointment in 1774 to the provincial Congress in Massachusetts. There, he served with Samuel Adams and John Hancock. 

Elbridge Gerry’s involvement in the patriot cause was not a secret and led to a precarious situation on the night of Paul Revere’s ride, April 18, 1775. He and two American colonels were staying at the Menotomy Tavern. The tavern was on the road used by the British to travel to Lexington. A detachment of soldiers stopped at the establishment and searched for rebels. Mr. Gerry and his companions, in their sleepwear, were forced to exit the building and hide in a cornfield near the house in order to avoid capture.

Also in 1775, Elbridge Gerry spearheaded a critical effort John Adams characterized as one of the most important projects of the struggle for independence. Mr. Gerry proposed a measure to the Provincial Congress which would arm sea vessels to prey upon the British fleet in order to obtain needed supplies. The measure was approved and signaled the first rebellious, offensive turn of any colony. 

There is a thread of opportunism traceable throughout Mr. Gerry’s life. At times, he used his access to information or political power to enhance his business profitability or commit nepotism. For instance, he is remembered as a “soldier’s friend” for he worked tirelessly to ensure the Continental Army was supplied and its troop numbers were at the proper levels. He also advocated for a good wage. But he also used his position as Army procurement agent to benefit his merchant business. He did not, however, support price gauging the government. He always adhered to and advocated for a fair price schedule. And when financial circumstances for the government contracted in 1780 and the schedule was changed. He walked out in protest and did not return for three years. 

As one of 16 men, Elbridge Gerry signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Although, he refused to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He believed the executive and legislative branches were given too much undefined power. He also objected to the document because it did not contain a bill of rights. Eventually, he turned his back on his opposition and supported the country’s political framework in 1789. He was elected to the first U.S. Congress and served from 1789 to 1793.

His opportunism continued during his service as governor of Massachusetts from 1810-11. In a redistricting bill, new lines were drawn around Amesbury and Haverhill to advantage the Republicans. Governor Gerry supported the measure. The outline of the proposed redistricting resembled a salamander. His critics seized on this fact and nicknamed the redistricting outline, a “gerrymander,” and the term remains a part of America’s political lexicon to this day. He also persecuted his political enemies in the press, brought charges against editors for alleged libel, and gave family members political appointments. As a result, his unpopularity, which had begun with the redistricting scandal, only increased.

Elbridge Gerry completed his political service by serving as vice president to James Madison. He died in office suffering a lung hemorrhage while walking to the Senate on November 23, 1814. The Congress did pay for his funeral, but the Federalist-controlled House refused to approve a Senate bill which proposed to pay the Democrat-Republican’s widow the remaining salary of his term. This exemplifies the tumultuous political life of a man known for an aristocratic flair. He endeared many to the cause of liberty, but failed, in some respects, to endear himself to his colleagues.

Elbridge Gerry lived to be 69 years of age.