Named Entity Results, Elbridge Gerry

Gerry, Elbridge 1744-1814 Signer of the Declaration of Independence; born in Marblehead, Mass., July 17, 1744; graduated at Harvard in 1762; took part in the early strife before the Revolution, and in 1772 represented his native town in the State legislature. Gerry was the first to propose, in the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, a law for fitting out armed vessels and establishing a court of admiralty. He took a seat in the Continental Congress early in 1776, signed the DeclarationGerry was the first to propose, in the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, a law for fitting out armed vessels and establishing a court of admiralty. He took a seat in the Continental Congress early in 1776, signed the Declaration of Independence, and remained in that body, with few intermissions, until 1785. He was an efficient member of finance committees in the Congress, and was president of the treasury board in 1780. A delegate in the convention that framed the national Constitution, he was one of those who refused to sign the instrument. He was a member of Congress from 1789 to 1793, and in 1797 was sent as one of the special envoys on a mission to France. He was elected governor of Massachusetts by the Democ

er a bitter contest for power in Massachusetts between the Federalists and Democrats, the latter succeeded, in 1811, in electing their candidate for governor, Elbridge Gerry, and a majority of both Houses of the legislature. In order to secure the election of United States Senators in the future, it was important to perpetuate thature proceeded to rearrange the senatorial districts of the State. They divided counties in opposition to the protests and strong constitutional arguments Elbridge Gerry. of the Federalists; and those of Essex and Worcester were so divided as to form a Democratic majority in each of those Federal counties, without any apparent regard to convenience or propriety. The work was sanctioned and became a law by the signature of Governor Gerry, for which act the opposition severely castigated him through the newspapers and at public gatherings. In Essex county the arrangement of the district, in relation to the towns, was singular and absurd. Russell, th

hat there were leaders in favor of it. He did not mention any names. Henry went to England for the reward for his services, when he was treated coolly by the officers of the government, and, in a letter from Under-Secretary Peel, he was referred to Craig's successor in the Canadian government. Offended at this treatment. Henry did not go to Canada, but landed in Boston, accompanied by a Frenchman who called himself Count de Crillon, but who was an impostor and swindler. Henry visited Governor Gerry, and from him obtained a letter of introduction to President Madison. He then went to Washington, and laid the whole matter before the President, who was so well satisfied of the great value of Henry's disclosures, at the moment when war was about to be declared against England—overwhelming proof of the secret designs of the British government to destroy the new republic— that he gave Henry $50,000 out of the secret service fund in his possession for the entire correspondence of the p