Caesar
Rodney and
Vincent Loockerman
Biggs Museum of American Art
Caesar
Rodney and
Vincent
Loockerman was born in 1722. His grandfather; Gouvert
Loockerman had come to the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam in 1633.
In the early 18th century Vincent's father, Nicholas, at the age of 17
settled in Kent County, Delaware, on a farm north of Dover. When Vincent
was in his twenties he established his home at the corner of State and
Water Streets in Dover. Vincent Loockerman was a merchant with extensive
landholdings in and around Dover. Like Caesar Rodney, Loockerman was active
in the political affairs of Delaware. He was a member of the General Assembly
and served as State Senator from Kent County. Vincent Loockerman is buried
in the cemetery of Church on Water Street, across from the
house where he lived.
Caesar Rodney was born October 7, 1728 on a farm near Dover, Delaware. He was the eldest son among eight children born to Caesar (the elder) and Elizabeth Rodney. The death of the elder Caesar in 1745 left the young 17 year- old Caesar Rodney with a considerable inheritance. Rodney began his life of public service ten years later in 1755, when at age 27 he was appointed high sheriff of Kent County. During the period of British rule he served various other appointed clerkships in the colonial government. Rodney was at various times sheriff, justice of the peace, and ultimately a Justice on the colonial Supreme Court. He was a member of the colonial assembly for fourteen terms until the dissolution of the colonial assembly during the American Revolution. Today, Caesar Rodney is primarily remembered for his much celebrated ride to Philadelphia on the night of July 1-2, 1776 to cast his vote for independence.
The Delaware Assembly had chosen three delegates to represent Delaware at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. George Read, Caesar Rodney and Thomas McKean were the men chosen to attend. When the proposal for independence was brought up for an initial vote, Rodney wasn't present. His duties as Brigadier General of the militia had called him to Lewes to investigate a Loyalist uprising. On the issue of and preliminary vote for independence, Read and McKean couldn't agree. Thomas McKean was in favor of dissolving ties with Britain. George Read held on to hope of reconciliation and was opposed.
Once the situation in Lewes had been resolved, Rodney returned home to Kent County. On July 1st, word of the impasse between Read and McKean reached him. Caesar Rodney then quickly set out on an overnight, 80 mile journey to Philadelphia. He arrived on the 2nd to support McKean and break the deadlock. Delaware was then able to join the other states in voting for independence from the Crown.
There is no recorded likeness of Caesar Rodney, probably because his
face was left scarred from surgery done to treat the cancer from which
he suffered. However, Rodney was described by John Adams as, "the
oddest looking Man in the World; he is tall, thin and slender as a Reed,
pale; his Face not bigger than a large Apple, Yet there is Sense and Fire,
Spirit, and Humour in his countenance."
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