Elbridge Gerry, (born July 17, 1744, Marblehead, Massachusetts [U.S.] died November 23, 1814, Washington, D.C., U.S.), signer of the American Declaration of Independence and fifth vice president of the United States (1813–14) in the second term of Pres. James Madison. From his name the term gerrymander later was derived. Gerry was the son of Thomas Gerry, a merchant, and Elizabeth Greenleaf. He graduated from Harvard in 1762 and entered his father’s business. He was a member of the Massachusetts legislature and General Court (1772–73), served on a Committee of Correspondence, was a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress (1774–75), and was
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