Elbridge who? How the name of a forgotten founder lives on in the word 'gerrymander'

Elbridge Gerry was an important early figure in the American Revolution, but his decision to approve a "gerrymandered" state legislative map inadvertently won him lasting infamy.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3456x2304+0+586/resize/3456x2304!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb0%2F34%2F2616ee00458d8188afcc17e7efb7%2Fap119302921807.jpg' alt='A portrait of Gov. Elbridge Gerry hangs in a hallway at the State House in Boston. In 1812, Gerry drew up a redistricting plan to protect his cronies — leading to the word "gerrymander."'/><p>Elbridge Gerry was an important early figure in the American Revolution, but his decision to approve a "gerrymandered" state legislative map inadvertently won him lasting infamy.</p><p>(Image credit: Ronaldo Schemidt)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5930301' />