Elbridge Gerry was born on July 17, 1744, in Marblehead, Massachusetts. His father, Thomas Gerry, was a merchant operating ships out of Marblehead, and his mother, Elizabeth (Greenleaf) Gerry, was the daughter of a successful Boston merchant. Gerry's first name came from John Elbridge, one of his mother's ancestors. Gerry's parents had eleven children in all, although only five survived to adulthood.
He received his early education at the hands of private tutors and later at the age of 14, enrolled at Harvard.
In 1762, he received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and completed his master’s in 1765, before joining his father’s shipping business.
His first serious stint with politics began when he was elected to colonial legislative assembly in, May, 1772 and served there till 1774.
As a legislative member, he was highly impressed by Samuel Adams and before leaving the office in 1774, participated in the Marblehead and Massachusetts committees of correspondence.
In June 1774, the British Parliament barred the use of Boston harbor and the supply ships filled with donated supplies for Bostonians began to dock at Marblehead, Gerry played an important role in transporting their items to their desired destination.
He participated in the first and second provincial congresses, between 1774 and 1776.
He remained involved in raising troops and in military logistics, as the chairman of the Committee of Supply and as the member of the Council of Safety throughout the American War of Independence.
He had a close escape on April 18, 1775 when he was attending a revolutionist meet at Menotomy and British troops cracked down at Lexington and Concord.
He became a member of the Continental Congress in 1776, where his financial acumen and military organizational skills made him indispensable.
In congress, he supported the cause of pay hike and better equipment for the soldiers and thus, earned the nickname "soldiers' friend".
Gerry’s stint as a congressional member continued till 1779, when after a disagreement on issue of suppliers price schedule, he discontinued.
Despite being a nominal member, he did not take active part in the congress meetings for around 3 years and instead focused on his business as well as took part in the proceedings of the lower house of the Massachusetts legislature.
In 1783, he once again resumed his association with the Confederation Congress which continued till September 1785.
He was one of the most vociferous members of the U. S. Constitutional Convention, which was organized in 1787 (Philadelphia).
During the convention he supported the formation of a constitution but refused to sign it as it did not include a Bill of Rights.
For Gerry an ideal constitution was one, which maintained equilibrium between governmental power and citizens’ rights.
In 1789, he became a member of the Federal Congress despite having reservations and supported Alexander Hamilton's financial scheme.
Between 1793 and 1797, he lived a retired life, until he was nominated as one of the three-member diplomatic team being sent to France by President John Adams.
During the diplomatic mission, the American diplomats were shocked by the demand of bribe on part of the French government, while two of his team members retuned to America, Gerry stayed back; this gave rise to the "XYZ" scandal, which tarnished his reputation.
In 1810, he was elected as the governor of Massachusetts. He approved a bill that gave Republicans an upper hand in the state legislature in 1812 and lost his governorship.
In 1812 presidential elections, James Madison appointed him as his running mate. The Duo won the election easily and Gerry took over the Vice President office in March 1813.
He passed away on November 23, 1814 while serving as the Vice President.
He was a true patriot who played a significant role in America’s struggle to establish its independent identity, ideology and authority. Before becoming the fifth Vice President of the United States, under President James Madison, he served at several other high profile posts with great finesse. His illustrious political portfolio includes several much acclaimed distinctions, such as being one of the original signatories of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution framer and successful diplomat. He actively participated in providing sustenance to the American Revolutionary War. In spite of being so closely related to the formation of American constitution, he refrained from signing the final draft of the United States Constitution, as it did not have a Bill of Rights.
Quotations:
"The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue, but are the dupes of pretended patriots. "
"What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty . .. Whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins. "
"A standing army is like a standing member. It's an excellent assurance of domestic tranquility, but a dangerous temptation to foreign adventure. "
"No religious doctrine shall be established by law. "
"And for our unparalleled ingratitude to that Adorable Being Who has seated us in a land irradiated by the cheering beams of the Gospel of Jesus Christ . .. let us fall prostrate before offended Deity, confess sincerely and penitently our manifold sins and our unworthiness of the least of His Divine favors, fervently implore His pardon through the merits of our mediator. "
"Self defense is a primary law of nature, which no subsequent law of society can abolish; the immediate gift of the Creator, obliges everyone to resist the first approaches of tyranny. "
In 1786, Gerry married Ann Thompson, who was twenty years younger to him and daughter of an influential as well as prosperous New York Merchant; James Monroe, was the best man at their wedding.
He fathered ten children with Ann between 1787 and 1801, which caused various health complications for Ann.
He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as Senator (1879–1957)
