Elbridge Gerry | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From 1880'sHistory of Cumberland Co., Maine. | |
| Member ofU.S. House of Representatives fromMaine's1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | |
| Preceded by | David Hammons |
| Succeeded by | Moses Macdonald |
| Member of theMaine House of Representatives | |
| In office 1846[1]–1847[1] | |
| Preceded by | Josiah Monroe[1] |
| Succeeded by | John Hill[1] |
| Prosecuting Attorney forOxford County | |
| In office 1842–1845 | |
| Clerk of theMaine House of Representatives | |
| In office 1840[2]–1841[2] | |
| Preceded by | George Robinson[2] |
| Succeeded by | George C. Getchell[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1813-12-16)December 16, 1813 |
| Died | April 10, 1886(1886-04-10) (aged 72) |
| Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery,Portland, Maine |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Anna St. Clair Jenness (m. 1849) |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | Attorney |
Elbridge Gerry (December 6, 1813 – April 10, 1886) was an American lawyer, who served as aU.S. Congressman fromMaine from 1849 to 1851.
Gerry was born on December 6, 1813, inWaterford, Massachusetts (now inMaine); he was the son of Peter and Mary "Polly" (Cutler) Gerry.[3] He attendedBridgton Academy, and studied law with Judge Stephen Emery (who also served as Maine's Attorney General).[3] Gerry was admitted to the bar in 1839 and established a practice in Waterford.[3]
Gerry's father served in theMaine House of Representatives and in local offices includingselectman and town meetingmoderator.[1] Gerry also served in local offices in Waterford, including town clerk (1842-1843), andtown meeting moderator (1847, 1852).[1]
He was clerk of theMaine House of Representatives in 1840, and was appointed a United States commissioner in bankruptcy in 1841.[3] From 1842 to 1845 he was prosecuting attorney forOxford County.[3] In 1846 he served in the Maine House of Representatives, including holding the post ofSpeakerPro tempore during the absence of SpeakerEbenezer Knowlton.[3]
He was elected to a single term in Congress as aDemocrat in 1848, and served from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1851.[3] He did not run for reelection in 1850, and moved toPortland to continue the practice of law.[3]
He died in Portland on April 10, 1886,[4] and was buried at Portland'sEvergreen Cemetery.[5]
In 1849, Gerry married Anna St. Clair Jenness, the daughter of Richard and Caroline Jenness ofPortsmouth, New Hampshire.[3] They were the parents of three children: Alice, Elbridge, and Elizabeth.[3]
Alice Gerry (1850-1921) was the wife of Arthur Melville Patterson ofBaltimore,Maryland.[3][6] After his death, she married John Stewart, the grandson ofDavid Stewart.[6] After her 1913 divorce, she married Francis B. Griswold.[7]
Elbridge Gerry (1853-1907) graduated fromBowdoin College andHarvard Law School.[8] He practiced law in Maine andNew York City before accepting appointment as vice consul inLe Havre,France, in 1885.[8] He remained in Europe after resigning in 1887, and died inSiena, Italy.[8]
Elizabeth Jenness Gerry (1852-1912), was the wife of Greek diplomat Constantin Pangiris.[9]
Many sources indicate that Elbridge Gerry (1813-1886) was the grandson ofElbridge Gerry (1744-1814).[5] This seems to be in error; the ancestry of Elbridge Gerry (1813-1886) can be traced to his father Peter (1776-1847);[10] Peter's father Nathaniel Gerry (or Geary) (1733-1791);[10] Nathaniel's father Thomas;[11] Nathaniel's grandfather, also named Thomas;[11] and Nathaniel's great-grandfather Thomas Gery (or Gary).[11]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMaine's 1st congressional district March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
