Rodney, C. A. (Caesar Augustus), 1772-1824

Signer Declaration of Independence.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : to Gen. Mason, 1805 Nov. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270656239

Att'y General under Jefferson and Madison.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Wilmington, to Samuel Carsewell, Esq., 1813 July 6. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270656252

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Wilmington, 1822 Sept. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270656278

From the description of Autograph letter not signed, undated. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270656265

Caesar Rodney (1720-1784), statesman, was a colonial legislator in Delaware and representative to the Stamp Act Congress and to the Continental Congress. He served as a major-general in the Delaware militia, signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and was president of Delaware from 1778 to 1781.

From the guide to the Caesar Rodney correspondence, 1749-1823, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Following one term in the House of Representatives for his native state of Delaware, Rodney was appointed U. S. attorney general by President Jefferson and continued in that office for three years under President Madison, during which time he served on the prosecution in the trial of former Vice-president Aaron Burr for treason. He briefly returned to the Delaware state legislature, then was again elected Congressional representative and later senator. He resigned from the Senate upon his appointment to the South American Commission of 1817-1818, which was charged by President Monroe with determining whether the newly independent republics of South America should be recognized by the U. S. government. Rodney was a strong advocate of recognition, and his influence on policy helped shape the Monroe Doctrine. Based on his work for the Commission, Rodney was named minister plenipotentiary for the United Provinces of the Plate, later Argentina, in 1823 and served until his death a year later.

From the guide to the C. A. Rodney papers, 1812-1849., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)