Daniel Rodney

Daniel Rodney
United States Senator from Delaware
In office November 8, 1826 – January 12, 1827
Preceded by	Nicholas Van Dyke
Succeeded by	Henry M. Ridgely
United States Representative from Delaware (2nd at-large)
In office December 2, 1822 – March 4, 1823
Preceded by	Caesar A. Rodney
Succeeded by	seat lost in reapportionment
19th Governor of Delaware
In office January 18, 1814 – January 21, 1817
Preceded by	Joseph Haslet
Succeeded by	John Clark
Personal details
Born	September 10, 1764 Lewes, Delaware
Died	September 2, 1846 (aged 81) Lewes, Delaware
Political party	Federalist
Spouse(s)	Sarah Fisher
Residence	Lewes, Delaware
Occupation	merchant
Religion	Episcopalian

Daniel Rodney (September 10, 1764 – September 2, 1846) was an American merchant and politician from Lewes, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, and later the National Republican Party, who served as Governor of Delaware, U. S. Representative from Delaware and U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Early life and family

Rodney was born at Lewes, Delaware, son of John and Ruth Hunn Rodney, brother of future Governor Caleb Rodney, and distantly related to President Caesar Rodney. He married Sarah Fisher and they had eight children, Hannah, George Brydges, John, William, Henry Fisher, Nicholas, Susan, and Mary. They lived at 231 Second Street and were members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lewes.

Rodney received little schooling, and worked as a sailor and merchant for some years. There is a story that before he was 21 years old he had his own ship and that during the American Revolution he was twice captured by the British. From 1793 to 1806, he served as a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, during roughly the same time as Trustee of the Poor. He was also a trustee of Wilmington College.

Professional and political career

His own political career began in 1810, when he ran for Governor of Delaware as a Federalist. He lost to the Democratic candidate, Joseph Haslet, by only 71 votes. His next campaign, in 1813, was against James Riddle of New Castle, and largely because of the unpopularity of the War of 1812, he was successful. He served as Governor of Delaware from January 18, 1814, to January 21, 1817.

The last year of the War of 1812 was as unnerving as the others had been. The British naval presence off the coast was more intermittent, but Indian River received a serious raid in June 1814. The burning of Washington, in August, however, really brought the war home. Everyone feared attacks up the coast. In Philadelphia old former President Thomas McKean was brought out of retirement to organize the defenses, and finally Pea Patch Island was actually fortified. Fortunately, the progress of the British army was halted at Baltimore and Delaware was not attacked again. Commodore Thomas McDonough of Odessa was one of the hero’s of 1814, defeating the British fleet on Lake Champlain, and U.S. Senator James A. Bayard, Sr. of Wilmington was one of the commissioners to the peace conference that produced the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war.

In the U.S. presidential election of 1820, Rodney received 4 electoral votes for Vice President, but lost overwhelmingly to incumbent Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins. This was the last virtually uncontested presidential election in U.S. History with incumbent U.S. President James Monroe facing no opposition. The lack of contest documented the complete collapse of the Federalist Party everywhere except Delaware.

When Caesar A. Rodney resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives in 1822, Daniel Rodney was elected to replace him, serving in the U.S. House from October 1, 1822 to March 3, 1823. Several years later Daniel Rodney was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Nicholas Van Dyke. He served briefly from November 8, 1826, to January 12, 1827, when the General Assembly chose another replacement.

Death and legacy

Rodney died at Lewes and is buried there in St. Peter's Episcopal Churchyard. His son George B. Rodney served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1841 until 1845.

Almanac

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and had a three-year term. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two-year term. The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators who also took office March 4, but for a six-year term.

Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor)
Year	Assembly		Senate Majority	Speaker		House Majority	Speaker
1808	38th		Federalist	Andrew Barratt		Federalist	Cornelius P. Comegys
1809	39th		Federalist	Jesse Green		Federalist	Cornelius P. Comegys
1810	40th		Federalist	Jesse Green		Federalist	Nathan Vickers

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Began office	Ended office	notes
Judge	Judiciary	Georgetown	1793	1806	Court of Common Pleas
Governor	Executive	Dover	January 18, 1814	January 21, 1817
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	October 1, 1822	March 3, 1823
U.S. Senator	Legislature	Washington	November 8, 1826	January 12, 1827

United States Congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	Committees	Class/District
1821–1823	17th	U.S. House	Federalist		2nd at-large
1825–1827	19th	U.S. Senate	Anti-Jacksonian		class 2

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1810	Governor		Daniel Rodney	Federalist	3,593	50%		Joseph Haslet	Republican	3,664	50%
1813	Governor		Daniel Rodney	Federalist	4,643	55%		James Riddle	Republican	3,768	45%

References

• Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
• Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775–1815. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University.
• Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609–1888. 2 vols. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
• Wilson, Emerson. (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Deltos Publishing Company.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Delaware’s Governors
• Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard