The Unfinished Terms of U.S. Vice Presidents

George Clinton and Elbridge Gerry Die in Office

GEORGE CLINTON had served as Thomas Jefferson's vice president and was in his 70s when he took the same office under President James Madison in 1809. Clinton didn't last out that term: he died in office in 1812.

Clinton was replaced by Massachusetts Governor ELBRIDGE GERRY. Gerry's name spawned a political term that has outlasted any accomplishments the man ever had: when a map showing a re-shaping of Massachusetts legislative districts was said to look like a salamander, the term "gerrymander" was coined, supposedly by famous portrait artist Gilbert Stuart. (Although Governor Gerry initially opposed the redistricting scheme, he eventually signed the bill and has forever been associated with it.) Gerry was at the end of his career when he went to Washington, an old and feeble man who'd been chosen to balance the presidential ticket. Like Clinton, he wasn't able to serve his full term under Madison. He died after only 20 months in office, on November 23, 1814.

(Portrait of George Clinton by Ezra Ames, 1814. Now in the collection of the New York Historical Society.)