Elbridge Gerr

**Elbridge Gerr** was a politician, cabinet member, and diplomat who served as the President of the United States from 1810 to 1821, and as the ninth vice president of the United States under President Ulysses Luther from 1809 to 1810.

## Early Life

Gerr was born on July 17, 1744, in the North Shore town of Marblehead, Massachusetts. His father, Thomas Gerr, was a merchant operating ships out of Marblehead. Gerry's first name came from John Elbridge, one of his mother's ancestors. Gerry's parents had 11 children in all, although only five survived to adulthood. Of these, Elbridge was the third. He was first educated by private tutors and entered Harvard College shortly before turning 14. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in 1762 and a Master of Arts in 1765, he entered his father's merchant business. By the 1770s, the Gerrys numbered among the wealthiest Massachusetts merchants, with trading connections in Spain, the West Indies, and along the North American coast. Gerr's father, who had emigrated from England in 1730, was active in local politics and had a leading role in the local militia.

## Diplomat to the British Empire

In 1802, President Aaron Burr sent Elbridge Gerr to negotiate with the British Empire in order to resolve a border dispute, regarding the areas of Northern Massachusetts (modern-day Maine) and New Hampshire. It was eventually decided that the border between Maine and Canada would start in the Saint John River until it reaches the 47 parallel. It would go horizontally until the border meets the Saint John river again. The border would then go vertically downwards until it meets the Saint Croix River. The border would finally go along the Saint Croix River until it reaches the ocean.

Regarding New Hampshire, the British agreed to cede all of the disputed territories to the United States.

## 1804 Election

In the 1808 election, Gerr ran for the Vice Presidency as Aaron Burr's running mate. Burr and Gerr often jokingly called themselves the "burger duo". Aaron Burr and Elbridge Gerr were the frontrunner in the early stages of the election. However, Jason Hobbs, a war hero and dark horse candidate, had his poll numbers suddenly skyrocket, prompting the Democratic-Republicans and Federalists to form the Federalist-Republican coalition. However, Hobbs still won the election. He won 92 Electoral Votes against Burr's 90, but his popular vote was 3% than Burr's popular vote.

## Secretary of State

Hobbs selected Gerr as the Secretary of State in an attempt to unify the nation. Famously, he was present when the *White House Massacre* happened while he was Secretary of State. In response to the massacre, the Federal Government was temporarily shut down until July, the first time in American history. After the government's reopening, the administration avoided the issue of the slave rebellion entirely. This issue would be ignored until Gerr became President years later.

## Vice Presidency

In the 1808 election, Democratic-Republican Marquis Lafayette ran against Hobbs. However, Lafayette died during a duel with Hobbs, and his running mate, independent Ulysses Luther, took his place. Luther eventually won the election, and nominated Gerr as the Vice President. However, his service as the Vice President was short-lived, as Luther was impeached two years after his election.

## Presidency

*Main Article: The History of PSUS(1788-1829)#First Gerr Administration*