born July 17, 1744, Marblehead, Mass.
died Nov. 23, 1814, Washington, D.C., U.S.
U.S. statesman.
An early advocate of independence, he was a member of the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence . After serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (178993), he was sent to France in 1797 with John Marshall and Charles C. Pinckney to resolve disputes that resulted in the XYZ Affair . During his term as governor of Massachusetts (181011) the state legislature redrew district lines to favour Democratic-Republican candidates against the Federalists, a practice that became known as gerrymandering . In 1812 he advocated war with Britain and was elected vice president on a ticket with James Madison .