For the man responsible for the odd shape of that electoral district, in eastern Massachusetts, was Elbridge Gerry, governor of the state. His Democratic-Republican partisans had stitched together the district in such a way as to assure the electoral victory of their candidate and therefore the defeat of the candidate for the other main party, the Federalists. The year was 1812, and the first of many recorded uses of the term occurred that spring. ITS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. ODD HOW THE FIRST ONE LOOKS LIKE A DRAGON.
