U.S. Vice President Elbridge Gerry dies 200 years ago today (Nov 23 1814)


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(Wednesday, November 23, 1814)Elbridge Gerry, the fifth Vice President of the United States and known best for being the namesake of gerrymandering, a process by which electoral districts are drawn with the aim of aiding the party in power, died today at his boarding house in Washington, D.C., of unknown causes after complaining of chest pains.

Following Gerry’s death at age 70, the office of Vice-President was vacant (under President James Madison) for more than two years, until March 4, 1817, when Daniel D. Tompkins was inaugurated.

Gerry was the second of seven U.S. Vice Presidents to die of natural causes while in office (1812-1912).