Sac History Happenings: In History's Spotlight: David Broderick

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

April 17, 2011

In History's Spotlight: David Broderick

Born: Feb. 4, 1820
Died: Sept. 16, 1859

Known for: A California state senator, lieutenant governor and U.S. senator, David Broderick was killed in a duel with David Terry, former chief justice of the state Supreme Court. The former town of Broderick (now part of West Sacramento) was named for him.

Background: Broderick started his political career in his native state of New York and came to California during the Gold Rush. He acquired wealth by privately minting gold coins. Broderick served in the state Senate from 1850--1851 and was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, beginning his service in 1857. An anti-slavery advocate, he clashed with Terry, who favored extending slavery into California. Broderick read some inflammatory remarks Terry made against him at a Democratic Party convention, then responded in kind. Terry and Broderick met at Lake Merced for a duel Sept. 13, 1859. Terry shot Broderick in the chest after Broderick's gun fired prematurely. Broderick died three days later.

A highlight: Broderick was elected president of the state Senate in 1851, thereby becoming California's second lieutenant governor.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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