Caesar Augustus Rodney born in 18th century was an American lawyer, diplomat and statesman. He was U. S. Representative, senator from Delaware and U. S. Minister to Argentina
Background
Caesar Augustus Rodney was born on January 04, 1772 in Dover, Delaware, United States. He was the son of Thomas Rodney and Elizabeth (Fisher) Rodney. He was the nephew of Caesar Rodney, who, having never married, took a particular interest in the boy and not only assisted in his education but bequeathed to him most of his real estate. After living for two years in Philadelphia, and then again in Dover, the family settled in 1780 in Wilmington, Delaware, where for upwards of two years Thomas Rodney was engaged in the flour exporting business.
Education
In 1786 Caesar Augustus matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon his graduation in 1789 he commenced the study of law under Joseph B. McKean in Philadelphia.
Career
He was admitted to the bar in 1793 and began practice in Wilmington and New Castle. In 1796 he entered the Delaware House of Representatives as a member from New Castle County and continued a member of that body until the year 1802. A stanch supporter of Jefferson, he was prevailed upon to run for Congress in that year against the Federalist candidate, James A. Bayard With Jefferson's backing, he succeeded in defeating Bayard and served as a member of the House of Representatives for two years. During this term he proved himself a firm supporter of the administration relative to the Louisiana Purchase treaty and of the Twelfth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. In January 1804 Rodney was chosen one of the House managers to conduct the impeachment proceedings against John Pickering, judge of the United States district court for New Hampshire, and in December of the same year he was appointed one of the House managers to conduct the impeachment proceedings against Justice Samuel Chase. On January 20, 1807, he became Jefferson's attorney-general, continuing in this post in Madison's administration as well until he resigned on December 5, 1811. In the War of 1812 he served actively in the defense of his state. Commissioned on April 7, 1813, as captain of the 2nd Company of artillery attached to the 16t Brigade of the militia, he was promoted major of a battalion of artillery after the close of the war on March 15, 1815. In the meantime, he had been elected a member of the state Senate and served in the sessions beginning January 3, 1815, January 2, 1816, and November 11, 1816. In 1817 he was appointed by President Monroe a member of a special commission to South America for the purpose of ascertaining the political status of newly established republics in that continent. His fellow commissioners were Theodorick Bland and John Graham. Proceeding directly to Buenos Aires, the commission remained there from February 1818 until the last of April. Rodney and Graham then returned to the United States while Bland proceeded to Chile. Reports by the commissioners were transmitted to Congress on November 17, 1818 (House Document 2, 15 Congress, 2 Sess. ) . As a result of his vigorous stand in opposition to the extension of slavery into the territories, Rodney was elected to Congress in 1820. He took his seat in December 1821 but in the following January he was elected by the Delaware legislature to fill a vacancy in the Senate. He resigned from the House on January 24, 1822, and qualified as a member of the Senate the same day. A year later he resigned to accept an appointment by Monroe as the first United States minister plenipotentiary to the Argentine Republic. He arrived in Buenos Aires on November 14, 1823, a few days before the President promulgated the Monroe Doctrine. The appointment was very acceptable to the Argentinians but Rodney's career as a minister proved to be a short one. Falling dangerously ill on November 23, he recovered sufficiently to speak at a public dinner held in his honor on May 27, 1824, but died, following a relapse, on June 10.
Connections
When not in the public service of the United States, Rodney maintained with his large family a lovely home in Wilmington, Delaware, named "Cool Spring. " His wife was Susan Hunn, daughter of Captain John Hunn of Philadelphia. By her he had fifteen children, ten daughters and five sons.