Caesar Augustus Rodney served as U.S. attorney general from 1807 to 1811 under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Rodney, a staunch Republican Party member, served in a variety of state and federal government offices. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rodney led the fight to impeach two federal judges because they were members of the rival Federalist Party.

Rodney was born on January 4, 1772 in Dover, Delaware. Like his father, who was a prominent lawyer and judge, Rodney seemed destined for a life in the public eye. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1789, Rodney "read the law" with a Philadelphia lawyer. During this period there were no law schools to train attorneys. Instead, a man would serve an apprenticeship, performing routine clerical duties, researching the law and receiving guidance from a senior attorney. After four years of training, Rodney was admitted to the...