David Colbreth Broderick

David Colbreth Broderick
Broderick as depicted in 1859's "McClees' Gallery of Photographic Portraits of the Senators, Representatives & Delegates of the Thirty-Fifth Congress".
United States Senator from California
In office March 4, 1857 – September 16, 1859
Preceded by	John B. Weller
Succeeded by	Henry P. Haun
2nd Lieutenant Governor of California Acting
In office January 9, 1851 – January 8, 1852
Governor	John McDougall
Preceded by	John McDougall
Succeeded by	Samuel Purdy
Member of the California Senate
In office 1850–1852
Personal details
Born	(1820-02-04)February 4, 1820 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died	September 16, 1859(1859-09-16) (aged 39) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political party	Democrat, Free Soil
Profession	Politician, stonecutter, smelter, assayer

David Colbreth Broderick (February 4, 1820 – 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 California 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 the Whig candidate, 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.