Elbridge Who? How a Founding Father's Name Became a Political Punchline

We toss the word“gerrymandering”around every election season, but very few of us know the man behind the name. Elbridge Gerry was a genuine American hero in his day. He signed the Declaration of Independence, served as governor of Massachusetts, and eventually became Vice President under James Madison. He even refused to sign the Constitution because it didn’t have a Bill of Rights yet. John Adams said of him,“He will risk great things to secure small ones.”For better or worse, that prediction came true.

In 1812, Gerry signed a redistricting bill that carved up Massachusetts into a voting district shaped like a twisted serpent. A newspaper cartoonist drew it with claws and fangs, calling it a“Gerry-mander,”and the phrase was born. Gerry himself wasn’t entirely comfortable with the plan, but the damage was done. His name became forever linked to the practice of drawing political boundaries for partisan gain. And to add insult to injury, we’ve been mispronouncing his name for two centuries. It’s“Gary,”not“Jerry.”

So the next time you hear a politician complain about gerrymandering, remember there’s a Founding Father rolling in his grave, mostly because his name is being butchered. What do you think, is it fair that a lifetime of public service gets overshadowed by one controversial decision? Drop a comment and let us know.