Elbridge Thomas Gerry
Encyclopedia
Elbridge Thomas Gerry was an American reformer
Reform movement
A reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make gradual change, or change in certain aspects of society, rather than rapid or fundamental changes...

.

Biography

In 1860 he was admitted to the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...

. He became an adviser to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty towards animals...

. Soon afterward he became interested in child welfare and in 1875 he and Henry Bergh
Henry Bergh
Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in April, 1866, three days after the first effective legislation against animal cruelty in the United States was passed into law by the New York State Legislature...

 founded the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (sometimes called the Gerry Society). Ultimately he devoted most of his attention to this cause, though he still retained his interest in other humanitarian movements.

In 1874 he took up the case of Mary Ellen McCormack and argued before the Supreme Court of New York.

He was married to Louisa Matilda Livingston and was the father to Robert Livingston Gerry, Sr. (1877–1957) and Peter Goelet Gerry
Peter G. Gerry
Peter Goelet Gerry was an American lawyer and politician. He was a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.-Early life:...

 (1879–1957). His mansion in New York at 61st Street was a center of cultivated and fashionable life but was demolished to make way for the Hotel Pierre. But he also lived in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...

.

In 1904 he was painted by the Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury
Adolfo Müller-Ury
Adolfo Muller-Ury was a Swiss-born American portrait painter and impressionistic painter of roses and still life.-Heritage and early life in Switzerland:...

 (1862–1947), and he presented the portrait to the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...

where it hangs today.
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