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David Colbreth Broderick

Born in Washington D.C., February 4, 1820

NEW YORK CITY

• 1844 May 13 Joined Howard Engine Co. 34, “Red Rover”, New York Fire Department
• 1845 Elected Foreman,  “Red Rover” Company
• 1849 April 19 Resigned to go to California

Arrived in San Francisco on the “Crescent City”, June 13, 1849

• 1849 December 24 One of several founders of the San Francisco Fire Department
• 1850 January One of several founders of Empire Company No. 1, and elected as Foreman
• 1850 Spring Successful in securing the coveted No. 1 for the Empire Company
• 1850   Elected State Senator, District 6, representing San Francisco, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sessions
• 1851   President of State Senate
• 1854   Elected Lieutenant Governor of California
• 1957   March 4   Elected United States Senator by the California Legislature
• 1859 September 13   Killed in a duel with California Supreme Court Chief Justice David Terry
• 1859 September 18   Buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery

DAVID C. BRODERICK was the son of Irish parents. At the time of building of the Capitol, at Washington, his father, having a considerable reputation in his district in Ireland as an ornamental worker in marble, was sent for to help in the construction of the stone work on the interior of the building. Our readers will recollect Mr. Broderick's allusion to his father's occupation and handiwork in his celebrated Kansas speech. He was a man of rather feeble constitution, of determined will, yet gentle disposition, of good education and irreproachable character. While engaged in his labors at Washington, shortly after his arrival there, he met the mother of the late Senator — a Miss Conway. Mr. Broderick's parents were married in Washington in the year 1820. They remained in the District of Columbia until 1829, when they removed to New York city. Two sons, of whom David was the eldest, were the fruits of this marriage, and both were born in the National Capital. David was born in the year 1821, and was consequently thirty-nine years of age at the time of his death. While living in New York, his father was employed as superintendent of a marble yard. He died in 1536, when David was fifteen years of age. At about that time the son, who was now the sole support of a widowed mother and a fatherless brother, was apprenticed to a stone-cutter, and for five years he continued laboring assiduously under one master in that exacting department of labor. From the earliest youth up, he was noted for being of exceedingly stout constitution and active temperament. Among associates — boys and young men — he was a cheerfully acknowledged leader. With all his physical liveliness and power, he was characterized by a uniformly sedate and moral behavior and sound judgment While he was working at the business of stonecutting, a companion by the name of Fred Welch induced Mr. Broderick to lend him some means in order to enable him to start a saloon. " The Republic" was opened at the corner of King and Hudson streets, in the Ninth Ward, under the nominal proprietorship of David C. Broderick, but his intimate friends stated then, and insist now, that the business was passed under his name for the sake of the popularity thus won in actual favor of the real owner, Mr. Welch. Mr. Broderick attended school at the Columbia Grammar School, at the time of his pupilage under the conduct of Professor Mason. He was encouraged to proceed with his studies until he should graduate at Columbia, but his reply to such advice and suggestions invariably was, "No, I am too poor; I must take care of my mother and that boy of mine," meaning his younger brother, Richard. His acquirements at school, however, were very creditable in their advance, and he never ceased to add to his store of knowledge by daily prosecution of study through the greater portion of his following years. For a number of years he served as an active fireman, and before he was of age he was elected foreman of Howard Engine Company, No. 34. He very early manifested great interest in politics, enjoyed attendance at political gatherings and read much of the political sayings of the prominent statesmen of the times. His first direct initiation into political life was in the year 1840, when, at the instance of Captain Ellison, he was sent from the Ninth Ward to Tammany Hall, as a member of the Young Men's Committee. In this capacity he served for two seasons, when he was elevated to the " Upper House" at Tammany, or constituted a member of the Old Men's Committee. At that time he was proffered and urged to take a nomination for the Legislature, but this honor he peremptorily declined. His next advance in political life consisted in a nomination and election to the Convention called to revise the Constitution of the State of New York.

At and prior to this period, Mr. Broderick had some experience as a public speaker. He addressed the Constitutional Convention, which met at Albany, on numerous occasions; originated several important provisions which were adopted, and was recognized as a member of unusual discrimination and ability.

But it was as an energetic worker on the Tammany committees that his planning and executive talent found its strongest demonstration. He took a prominent interest in the famous contest between Brady and Sherman Brownell for the Mayorship, and contributed largely to the result of that local canvass. It is presently known that his aspirations took a Congressional direction. He was nominated for Congress, and ran against Fred Tallmadge, by whom he was beaten by a very few votes. His defeat was owing, principally, to a feud among several fire companies, affecting his vote. Further than this, a number of old fashioned Hunkers protested and worked against his election on account of his youth.

Mr. Broderick was appointed one of the secret Inspectors of the Port of New York, by the Collector, in the year 1846, which position he resigned immediately prior to his departure for this country.

His mother died in 1843, and his brother was shortly afterwards killed by the accidental bursting of a bombshell in Duval's Foundry Yard. Without any tie of kin on the face of the earth, Mr. Broderick took his departure from New York for California in May, 1849, arriving here in July of that year.

Mr. Broderick's history, since he has been a citizen of this State, is mostly of a public character, and in its growth it has been familiar to the intelligent and attentive portion of our population. He was fortunate in his pecuniary transactions; speedily acquiring, by bargains in real estate, and a connection with Frederick Kohler's assay office, a considerable fortune. In 1850, on the 8th of January, he was elected to the State Senate, from San Francisco, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Nathaniel Bennett. On the resignation of Governor Burnett, in 1851, Broderick was elected President of the Senate, thus becoming, ex officio, Lieut. Governor. In January, 1857, he was elected to the United States Senate for the term of six years. At the time of his decease he had nearly four years more to serve.

Mr. Broderick, by his recent canvass through the greater portion of this State, gathered more of zealous public attention from our citizens than he ever before held ; for however the character of his addresses may be described, it is certain that he never left his audiences without adding to the list of his political and personal friends, and largely increasing the interest of all hearers in his future course of action.

On the 9th of July last he made his first campaign speech in the city of Placerville. He selected that place as his starting point on account of the fact that it was the Western terminus of that great Overland Mail route for which he had labored so long and ardently, and in the face of such bitter and deceiving opposition. As has been often told, his opponents boldly prophesied, and some of his friends feared that he would make a painful failure as a stump orator. The publication of Mr. Broderick's Placerville speech in the Union quieted the sneerers (sic) and confirmed the best opinions of confident admirers. During his long tour through the Mountains he was accompanied and faithfully reported by a gentlemen connected with this office ; and it may be safely asserted that he sustained throughout a decency, dignity and original forcibleness of speech which has placed him upon the record, as not only above the ordinary level of public speakers, but worthy of especial eminence in this regard. His delivery was bold, clear, distinct ; his gesticulations were vehement and appropriate ; his voice excellent in strength and tone. He could express defiance or utter contemptuous and sarcastic remark with peculiar and telling effect. His memory was so thorough that he could follow an opponent through his entire speech, in the precise order given, and he was prompt, often witty, in retort

Mr. Broderick is most deservedly credited with the possession of a tremendous will-power, and warm, lasting, personal attachment. He was ever ready and even anxious to consult and receive advice up to the hour of action, and then and thereafter he was decided and unchangeable. Hence many but partially acquainted with him mistook him for a harsh bearing, dictatorial man. Far was this from a correct idea of the man. Those who entertained such false notions of his character probably came in contact with him in conversing upon a matter on which he had long and openly deliberated and concluded. From a single abrupt answer they mistook his usual wish and spirit No man had a finer habit of affibility, (sic) consideration and patience than Mr. Broderick.

Socially, Mr. Broderick was in the estimate of his intimate friends a most delightful man ; and he easily formed close acquaintances in quarters where he liked. He apparently scrutinized a newly introduced person with the eye of a divining physiologist, and then gradually and happily adapted his language and topics to the visitor's convenience and comfort. It was easy to detect the cause of his immense command of men. The warm grasp of his hand and the sincere bent of that nobly arched blue eye were tokens for health and truth which few failed to appreciate — which fewer could confess and resist. The whole presence of the man was an embodiment of earnestness towards the right, of unyielding hatred and opposition to wrong. He was fond of a joke, but was rather chary of giving one at the expense of a present friend, lest it might grieve. He had rare talent for imitating voice and countenance, and he more frequently indulged in mocking allusions to his enemies than in reproach or denunciation. All his instincts were kindly.

Those who would have desired to parade contempt for him on account of his supposed lack of educational or general information were mistaken and foolish. A man better acquainted with the history of these United States man was David C. Broderick does not live in the State to-day. He was well read in English and Roman history and had an unusually good acquaintance with the records of all the modern Continental Powers. Besides these, his readings of the standard poets were extensive and close. He was quick to recognize a quotation from Shakspeare (sic) or Milton, or his favorite, Lord Byron. In law his knowledge was substantial and accurate. He kept well informed in modern light literature, and his criticisms upon Dickens', Thackeray's or Bulwer's latest novel were ready at an early date, and evinced a full understanding of the text and an experienced comparison of character. He was a benefited subscriber for the leading English Quarterlies, in which he reposed a discriminative reliance.

Morally, David C. Broderick was an unimpeachable man in his age and generation. He was, in practice, scrupulously neat His mind was clear and well balanced. He not only avoided the haun's (sic) of vice and dissipation, but the language of the depraved and foul never dwelt upon his lips.

The day before he received. the fatal challenge he was walking with an intimate friend, when he volunteered the statement that he had reached the hight (sic) of his ambition, that he did not desire a reelection to the Senate, that he hoped and intended to be able to retire from public life at the expiration of the term for which he had been elected and devote himself to study the plain discharge of business relations. He has reached Peace in the midst of struggle. He loved his country ; in particular, he loved his adopted State. Here he intended to pass all his days. For the welfare of California his every prayer was breathed. By his untimely death we have, as a people, met with an irreparable loss ; a sense of which will surely be augmented by every discovery of his purpose and acts, whether in the political arena or in the private circle.
Source: Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 17, Number 2644, 17 September 1859 — DAVID C. BRODERICK. [ARTICLE]

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