Thomas Russell Gerry

Thomas Russell Gerry (December 8, 1794 – October 8, 1848) was an American sailor who was active in the Sons of the American Revolution and was a son of the fifth U.S. Vice President Elbridge Gerry. Early life Gerry was born on December 8, 1794, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was one of ten children born to Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814), a Founding Father, Massachusetts Governor and U.S. Vice President, and Ann (née Thompson) Gerry (1763–1849), who was near twenty years his father's junior. At his parents' wedding, his father's best man was his good friend James Monroe. His maternal grandfather Charles Thompson was a wealthy New York merchant who served as secretary of Congress. His paternal grandparents were Thomas Gerry (1702–1774), a merchant who operated ships out of Marblehead, and Elizabeth (née Greenleaf) Gerry (1716–1771), the daughter of a successful Boston merchant. Career On December 6, 1814, Gerry was appointed and served as a midshipman in the United States Navy. His brother, James Thompson Gerry (1797–1854), was commander of the USS Albany, a United States Navy war sloop, when it was sunk on September 28, 1854. In November 1818, his mother Ann wrote to the Smith Thompson, Secretary of the Navy, soliciting his promotion and expressing thanks for the promotion of his elder brother, Elbridge Gerry Jr. (1793–1867) In February 1822, his brother Elbridge also wrote to the Secretary of the Navy recommending his Thomas' promotion to Lieutenant.