Asked by LM of Albuquerque: What is the origin of the term gerrymandering? It’s such a strange word.

Answered: According to www.infoplease.com, the term can be traced to Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), an American statesman who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Gerry also represented Massachusetts in the first two U.S. Congresses from 1789-83 and was selected by President John Adams, along with C. C. Pinckney and John Marshall, for a mission to France in a new attempt to secure recognition of U.S. rights from Talleyrand in what became known as the XYZ Affair.

He was elected governor of Massachusetts in 1810 and reelected in 1811. In his second term his party, the Jeffersonians, desiring to retain their control of the state, rearranged the election districts in their favor in a grotesque salamander-like shape, a political maneuver then named by his opponents and since known as a gerrymander (from his name and salamander).

Gerry was defeated for reelection in 1812, but he was immediately nominated by the Jeffersonians for Vice President on the ticket with James Madison, and he was elected. He loyally supported the War of 1812, though his Massachusetts constituency was opposed to it. Gerry died in office.