New Britain herald., 1927-02-18
ELBRIDGE 7. GERRY
dies, AGED 90 YRS.
Continued from First Page.)

Much OF his long life, however,
was devoted to public service. Be
sides becoming widely known as
lawyer, banker and yachtsman. he
served on many important commits
sions in the state sof New York and
worked energetically to improve the
condition of the children OF New
York city.
Born In New York
Mr.. Gerry, born in New York city
on Christmas day, 1897, was grand
son of Elbridge Gerry of Massa-
chusetts, who was a signer of the
Declaration OF Independence, and
the fifth vice president. of the United
States. He was graduated from Co.
lumbia University in 1857 and was
admitted to the New York bar in
1850.
He held his first public position in
1867 when he was a member of the
New York constitutional convention.
He served as chairman of the New
York commission on capital punish
ment which in 1856 substituted the
electric chair for hanging as the
penalty for murderers in that state.
In 1889, he was chairman of the
executive committee for the celebra-
ton of the centennial of the in
auguration of George Washington
and in 1892 he was chairman of the
New York city commission on in
sanity.
Ardent Yachtsman
Ever since 1856 he had been
known to his friends as Commodore
Gerry. He had been interested in
yachting for some time and in that
year he was elected commodore of
the New York Yacht club, posi-
ton which he held for seven years.
His flagship, the steam yacht Elec-
ira. became familiar to residents of
the leading ports of this country and
Europe.
The commodore was fond of en-
i PERTAINING, and on each annual cruise
of the club the Electra had its full
quota of guests, His affection for
this yacht was such that when his
advancing years led him to the re-
gretful decision to quit the sea for
his recreation he would not sell the
Electra nor permit her to be used
by anyone else. He ordered the
yacht dismantled.
Children's Work
Early in life Mr.. Gerry became in
terested in the welfare of the chill
dren in New York. He worked,
wrote and gave in their behalf and
from 1876 to 1901 he was vice
president of the New York society
for the prevention of cruelty to chill
dren. This interest also was extended
to dumb animals and for many
years he served as vice-president of
the American society for the preven-
ton of cruelty to animals. Another of
his humanitarian activities was his
service as a governor of the New
York hospital from 1878 to 1912.
| In addition to his extensive law
practice he had numerous banking
Affiliations. He had served as a d.
rector of the Fifth Avenue Trust
Company of New York. the Newport
! Trust Company of Newport, r. l.,
and the Industrial Trust Company
1 of Providence.
Had Notable Library
/ He accumulated a notable law
library containing $4,000 volumes.
| In the later years of his life he
! made his home in Newport. His
residence. Seaverge, was one of the
older of the summer homes in this
city.
He was a member OF the Reading
Room of Newport. the Hope club of
1 Providence, the Somerset club of
/ Boston. the Metropolitan and
Knickerbocker clubs of New York,
/ the Fort Orange club of Albany and
the Metropolitan club of Washing
| ton.
From 1877 to 1918 he was q
trustee of the General Theological
Seminary and from 1895 to 1902 a
trustee of the American Museum of
Natural History.
He was married In 1857 to Louisa
NJ. Livingston, who died some years
ago. They had two sons, U. S. Sena-
tor Peter Goelet Gerry. of Rhode
Island, and Robert Livingston Gerry,