Rodney, Caesar, << SEE zuhr >> (1728-1784), an American statesman, was a Delaware signer of the Declaration of Independence. Rodney was one of the political leaders most responsible for Delaware’s participation in the American Revolution (1775-1783). He served in the Delaware legislature almost continuously from 1761 to 1776. As a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776, he voted for independence after riding 80 miles (130 kilometers) on horseback to cast his vote in time.
Rodney was born on Oct. 7, 1728, in Dover, Delaware. He led opposition to British taxes before the Revolution and was elected to the Continental Congress of 1774 and 1775. In 1777, he commanded the Delaware militia. The next year, he was elected president (governor) of the state. He died on June 26, 1784. A statue of Rodney represents Delaware in the United States Capitol.
