Gov. Samuel Adams Officially Notifies Elbridge Gerry of His Selection As Elector: Signed by Two Signers of the Declaration of Independence

"You have been chosen an Elector of President and Vice President of the United States of America"

In 1796, George Washington was nearing the end of his second term, and he declined to run for another.  The Presidential election of 1796 was a landmark election. It was the first transition of power, and the first time the nation would go through a contested presidential election and national presidential campaign.  The result would determine the future direction of the country and would have implications for the structure of future elections. Unlike the elections of Washington, the winner was not a forgone conclusion. The contest pitted the Federalists, led by Vice President John Adams, but also including John Jay, Thomas Pinckney and others, against the Democratic-Republic ticket, led by Thomas Jefferson and including Aaron Burr, Samuel Adams and George Clinton.  Prior to the ratification of the 12th amendment in 1804, each elector was given two votes without the ability to specify which was for President and which for Vice President.  The person with the second most votes became Vice President. So although candidates could theoretically run together as running mates, they also technically were in competition. This election featured active campaigning on both sides, though, as was the custom, the candidates themselves let others engage in this on their behalf.

Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and former two-term Congressman. A close friend of John Adams, in 1796 he agreed to have his name put up for selection as a presidential elector.  On June 13, 1796, Massachusetts, home to both John Adams and Elbridge Gerry, passed a statute relating to the choice of electors.  Representatives of the Commonwealth would assemble to vote for electors and state their preferences, and "on the eighteenth day of November the General Court, then in session, shall examine said lists or returns and determine and declare who is elected form each district… And be it further resolved that his excellency the Governor be and hereby is requested forthwith to transmit to each person so chosen an Elector a certificate of said choice."  Among those chosen was Elbridge Gerry.  This put Samuel Adams, a fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence and himself a candidate for the post, in the position of approving an Elector in an election in which he would potentially receive votes.

Manuscript document signed, as Governor of Massachusetts, Boston, November 19, 1796. "I do certify that you have been chosen an Elector of President and Vice President of the United States of America, agreeably to Law and a resolve of the Legislature of this Commonwealth dated the 13th of June 1796." The integral address leaf addressed to Gerry is still present, and Gerry has docketed it on the verso "Massachusetts Governor Adams certificate, 19th Nov 1796 of EG as an Elector." Thus both Adams and Gerry, two signers of the Declaration of Independence, have signed this page in full or with initials.

Gerry received this document and accepted the position. Massachusetts went for John Adams; Samuel Adams received none of the electoral votes of his own state.  The result also brought together political rivals Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on the same ticket.  Since Jefferson came in second in the tally, he was automatically elected the Vice President, regardless of the party affiliation.

This is the first time we have ever carried an official appointment of anyone as a presidential elector, and that that two signers of the Declaration of Independence are involved is all the better.