Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/287

 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.