Senator Peter Goelet Gerry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_G._Gerry

Peter Goelet Gerry (September 18, 1879 – October 31, 1957) was an American lawyer and politician. He was a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.

Early life

Gerry was born in New York City, the son of Elbridge Thomas Gerry (1837–1927) and Louisa Matilda Livingston Gerry (1836–?), and the great grandson of Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814), the fifth Vice President of the United States (who had given his name to the term gerrymandering).

In the summer of 1899, Gerry and his brother Robert were tutored by William Lyon Mackenzie King, who later became the Prime Minister of Canada. Gerry graduated from Harvard University in 1901. He studied law and was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1906. Gerry married Mathilde Townsend, a wealthy Washington society woman, in 1910. They divorced in 1925. Gerry later married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser (1873–1958), the widow of George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862–1914).

Political career

Gerry was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Rhode Island's 2nd District as a Democrat from 1913 to 1915. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1914 but he was elected to the United States Senate in 1916 and served from 1917 to 1929. From 1919 to 1929, Gerry was the Democratic Whip. He has been described as a Wilsonian Moralist. In 1928 he was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election, but in 1934 he was again elected to the U.S Senate over the man who had defeated him six years earlier and served until 1947. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1946.

Gerry died on October 31, 1957 and was buried at St James Cemetery, Hyde Park, New York.

Peter Goelet Gerry (September 18, 1879 – October 31, 1957) was an American lawyer and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives and later, as a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island. He holds the distinction of being the only U.S. Senator to lose re-election and later reclaim such Senate seat from the person who had defeated him.

Early life Gerry was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of Elbridge Thomas Gerry (1837–1927) and Louisa Matilda Livingston Gerry (1836–1920), and the great grandson of Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814), the fifth Vice President of the United States (who had given his name to the term gerrymandering).

In the summer of 1899, Gerry and his brother Robert were tutored by William Lyon Mackenzie King, who later became the Prime Minister of Canada[2] In 1901, Gerry graduated from Harvard University. He studied law and was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1906.

Political career Gerry was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Rhode Island's 2nd District as a Democrat from 1913 to 1915. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1914 but he was elected to the United States Senate in 1916 and served from 1917 to 1929. He was the first United States senator from Rhode Island elected by popular vote rather than by the state senate. He was also the first Rhode Island Democrat United States senator to serve since 1859.

From 1919 to 1929, Gerry was the Democratic Whip. He has been described as a Wilsonian Moralist. In 1928 he was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election, but in 1934 he was again elected to the U.S Senate over the man who had defeated him six years earlier and served until 1947. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1946.

Personal life

Mathilde Townsend, painted by John Singer Sargent in 1907 Gerry married Mathilde Townsend, a wealthy Washington society woman, in 1910. They divorced in 1925. Gerry married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser (1873–1958), the widow of George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862–1914) on October 22, 1925.

Gerry died on October 31, 1957 in Providence, Rhode Island. He was buried at St James Cemetery, Hyde Park, New York. His widow died on December 21, 1958.