The Incredible Story Of Caesar Rodney, Patriot!

The Deciding Vote: Caesar Rodney, a Founding Father With Italian Roots, Delivered the Vote That Declared Independence

On July 2, 1776, Caesar Rodney rode 80 miles overnight from Dover to Philadelphia in a race against time. Arriving as the vote on independence was already underway, he cast the tie-breaking ballot that secured Delaware's support for separation from Great Britain, paving the way for the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. (Rodney's monument, pictured above, stood in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, from 1923 until its removal amid civil unrest in June 2020.)

A two-day reenactment will revive the harrowing journey; portraying Caesar Rodney is Ciro Poppiti, founder of the Delaware Italian American Foundation. On July 1, 1776, the Delaware delegation to the Continental Congress was deadlocked on the question of independence. One delegate supported breaking from Great Britain, another opposed it, and the fate of Delaware’s vote hung in the balance. About 80 miles away in Dover, Caesar Rodney — a Founding Father, lawyer and politician with English and Italian roots — received word of the impasse and set out on a grueling overnight ride to Philadelphia. Arriving just in time on July 2, Rodney cast the tie-breaking vote that delivered Delaware’s support for independence, clearing the way for the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and forever securing his place in American history. As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, 250Ride.org will bring Rodney’s remarkable journey to life with an immersive two-day reenactment of his historic ride by horse-drawn carriage.

Born in St. Jones Neck in Dover Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a descendant of the noble Adelmare family from Treviso, Italy.

Portraying Rodney is Ciro Poppiti, founder of the 250 Ride and the Delaware Italian American Foundation, and the unanimous choice to bring Rodney to life. The journey will officially begin on Friday, June 12, with a prayer at Historic Christ Church in Dover, setting the tone for a launch rooted in unity and reflection. From there, the Ride will travel north through Delaware, culminating that evening at Thousand Acre Farm in Middletown, where guests will gather for the 250 Ride Gala.

Declaration of Independence, by John Trumbull (1818), portrays the presentation of the Declaration of Independence to Congress. Rodney was not depicted in the painting.

On Saturday, June 13, the reenactment continues through Historic Old New Castle, joining the annual Separation Day Parade before concluding later that day at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. For more on the story and upcoming events, visit 250Ride.org.

The uprooted Caesar Rodney monument, pictured at the top of the newsletter, was taken out of storage and installed in Washington, D.C.’s Freedom Plaza in April 2026 as part of the nation’s America250 summer celebration. The Delaware Italian American Foundation is a proud member of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO).

Formed in NYC in 1975, the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) — a national coalition of 74 cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups — seeks to promote our history and traditions for today’s generations, and tomorrow’s.

JOIN COPOMIAO AND ELEVATE YOUR ITALIAN AMERICAN GROUP TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL. APPLY TODAY