David Colbreth Broderick (February 4, 1820 â€" September 16, 1859) was
an attorney and politician, elected by the legislature as Democratic
U.S. Senator from California. Born in Washington, DC, to Irish
immigrant parents, he lived in New York until moving to California
during the Gold Rush. He was a first cousin of politicians Andrew
Kennedy of Indiana and Case Broderick of Kansas.Broderick was born in
1820 in Washington, D.C., on East Capitol Street just west of 3rd
Street. He was the son of an Irish stonecutter and his wife. His
father had come to the United States in order to work on the United
States Capitol. In 1823 Broderick moved with his parents to New York
City. There he attended public schools and was apprenticed to a
stonecutter.Broderick became active in politics as a young man,
joining the Democratic Party. In 1846, he was the Democratic candidate
for U.S. Representative from New York's 5th congressional district,
but lost the election to Whig candidate Frederick A. Tallmadge, who
gained 42% of the vote to Broderick's 38%.In 1849, Broderick joined
the California Gold Rush. He moved to San Francisco, where he engaged
in smelting and assaying gold. Broderick minted gold coins that
contained less gold than their face value, keeping the difference. His
$10 coins, for example, contained $8 in gold. He used the profits to
finance his political aspirations. David C. Broderick Biography, NetWorth, Height, Age, Weight, Family, Married, Son, Daughter