GERRY
GERRY
suits, amassed a fortune, and represented Marble-
head in the general court ahnost continuously,
1773-1S14. He was appointed in 1773 with Han-
cock and Orne on the committee of correspond-
ence that proved so efficacious in informing the
distant colonists of governmental acts of oppres-
sion to the people. He
supported Samuel
Adams and was a del-
egate to the provin-
cial congress that met
annually at Cam-
bridge and Water-
town; and was on a
committee to collect
ammunition and sup-
plies for the militia.
He drew the bill
adopted in 1775 which
established an admi-
'(j^"^^' ^"""^ ralty court for the pro-
tection of privateers
and the distribution of prize money, a movement
that led to the establishment of a national navy.
He was a delegate to the continental congress,
1776-80, and 1783-85. He was on the committee to
provide supplies for the army and on the standing
committee on the treasiuy. He was one of the
first to advocate a Declaration of ludeiiendence,
seconded the motion for its adoption, and signed
the document. With Morris and Jones he was
sent by congress in 1778 to visit General Wash-
ington at his headquarters on the Schuylkill to
determine the cause for delay in prosecuting a
vigorous campaign, and their report was made a
pretext for questioning the military ability of the
commander-in-chief. This was no doubt encour-
aged by the extensively circulated " Conway
cabal," and brought upon the New England dele-
gates charges of complicity in a determined effort
to supplant Washington by the promotion of
General Gates. In 1779 when peace negotiations
were opened, he insisted on the protection of the
fishing rights of the colonies. As chairman of
the treasury committee he investigated the ac-
counts of Gen. Benedict Arnold m 1780, and thus
gained the displeasure of that officer. He vacated
his seat in congress in February, 1780, upon the
ground that the sovereignty of Massachusetts had
been violated by congress in refusing to order the
ayes and nays on a question of order presented
by him. In this he was sustained by the Massa-
chusetts legislature, which formally protested
against the action of congress. Tlie general court
returned him as a delegate in 1783. In the mean-
time he had been elected to both houses of the
state legislature, but declined the senatorial
honor, giving his services in the representative
chamber. He was a member of the committee
to arrange a treaty of peace with Great Britain.
He opposed the organization of the Society of the
Cincinnati as uurepublican. In 1783 he was the
chairman of two committees to examine sites for
a Federal capitol. Upon the expiration of his
term in congress in September, 1785, he took his
seat in the popular branch of the Massachusetts
legislature. He was elected a delegate to the
Federal constitutional convention of 1789, held in
New York, and in that body directed his influ-
ence to prevent the incorporation of any mo-
narchical features in the instrument, and when
the constitution as adopted was presented, he
joined Randolph and Mason in refusing assent to
the instrument, upon the ground that it gave the
President too much power. Upon his return to
Massachusetts, he was refused an election to the
state constitutional convention, but was invited
to attend its sessions for the purpose of answer-
ing questions of fact in regard to the constitution,
but when reminded of the limitations of his posi-
tion, he withdrew. He was elected by the Re-
publican party a representative in the 1st and 2d
U. S. congresses, serving, 1789-93. President
Adams appointed him with Marshall and Pinck-
ney envoy to France to secure indemnity for
French depredations on United States commerce.
The conduct of Talleyrand toward the commis-
sioners disgusted Marshall and Pinckney and they
returned home. Gerry remained, hoping to pre-
vent a war with France, but his efforts for peace
were unsuccessful and the government recalled
him. The Republicans of Massachusetts nomi-
nated him for governor, but in the election he
was defeated by Caleb Strong by a small majority.
He was elected, however, in 1810 and again in
1811. His dismissal of all the incumbents in the
civil offices and appointment of Republicans, to-
gether with the redistricting the state in the
interests of his party — the origin of the word
"Gerrymander," as applied to political actions
— lost to him the control of the state government
which with the next U.S. congress passed over to
the Federalist party. In 1812 his party made him
their nominee for Vice-President, and he was
elected on the ticket with James Madison for
President. He presided over the deliberations
of the senate during the first, second and part of
the third session of the 13th congress, up to the
time of his death. He married Ann, daughter
of Charles Thompson, clerk of the Continental
congress, and she with six daughters and three
sons survived him. He was a fellow of the
American academy of sciences and received the
honorary degree of LL.D. from Harvard in 1810.
He died in Washington, D.C., Nov. 23, 1814, and
was buried in the congressional burial ground
where the government erected a monument to
his memory.
