born Oct. 7, 1728, Dover, Del.
died June 26, 1784, Dover, Del., U.S.
American Revolutionary leader.
He was a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress (1765) and the Continental Congress (1774–76, 1777–78). He cast the tie-breaking vote in the Delaware delegation that decided the Congress's resolution for independence. A signer of the Declaration of Independence , he became commander of the Delaware militia (1777) and served as "president" of Delaware (1778–81).