George B. Rodney

George Brydges Rodney (April 2, 1803 – June 18, 1883) was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party, who served as United States Representative from Delaware.

Early life and family

Rodney was born April 2, 1803 in Lewes, Delaware, son of Governor Daniel Rodney and Sarah Fisher. He graduated from Princeton College in 1820, studied law and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1828, and began practice in New Castle County, Delaware.

His son, also named George Brydges Rodney, served as governor of Alaska for four months in 1874.

Political career

Rodney served as Register in Chancery and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court of Sussex County from 1826 until 1830. He was elected as a Whig and served four years representing Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 27th and 28th Congress from March 4, 1841 until March 3, 1845, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents William Henry Harrison and John Tyler. Following his retirement he resumed the practice of law and served as a delegate to the peace convention held in Washington, D.C., in 1861 in an effort to prevent the impending Civil War.

George B. Rodney, Jr.

George Brydges Rodney (7 October 1842 – 21 September 1927) was an officer in the United States Army who served as the sixth commander of the Department of Alaska, from April 21, 1874 to August 16, 1874.

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army on April 23, 1861 in an independent company of artillery formed in Pennsylvania. He was promoted in the Regular Army to the rank of 1st lieutenant in the 4th Artillery on the 5th of August of the same year. He received a brevet (honorary promotion) to the rank of major on September 20, 1863.

He remained in the Army after the war and was promoted to captain in 1869, major in 1892, lieutenant colonel in 1899 and to colonel in 1901. He was promoted to brigadier general the day before his retirement from the Army on August 5, 1903.

He was a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

He was the son of Delaware politician George B. Rodney.

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