Elbridge Gerry - Vice President

Vice President

Gerry was chosen by the Democratic-Republican party congress to be James Madison's vice presidential running mate in the 1812 election. Madison easily won reelection, and Gerry took office in March 1813. At that time the office of vice president was largely a sinecure; however, Gerry's duties included advancing the administration's agenda in Congress, and the securing of loans for the government to assist in funding the nation's prosecution of the War of 1812. He died in office of heart failure in Washington, D.C. and is buried there in the Congressional Cemetery.