Daly City in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Broderick – Terry Duel

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 22, 2009

1. Broderick – Terry Duel Replacement Marker

Inscription. The famous duel that ended dueling in California was fought in a ravine east of here, near the shore of Lake Merced. In the early morning of September 13, 1859. The participants were U.S. Senator David C. Broderick and Chief Justice David S. Terry of the California Supreme Court. Senator Broderick was mortally wounded. The site is marked with a monument and granite shafts where the two men stood. Dedicated October 16, 1949

Erected 1949 by California Centennial Commission, County Board of Supervisors, and San Mateo County Historical Association. (Marker Number 19.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 13, 1859.

Location. 37° 42.49′ N, 122° 29.05′ W. Marker is in Daly City, California, in San Mateo County. Marker can be reached from Lake Merced Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Lake Merced Boulevard, Daly City CA 94015, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Ground Beneath Your Feet (approx. one mile away); In Honor of Dr. Vic Rowen and Joe Verducci (approx. 1.1 miles away); Granville House (approx.

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1.1 miles away); If it's Summer, Bring a Sweater (approx. 1.2 miles away); Where Daly City Started (approx. 1.2 miles away); Monarch's Tale (approx. 1.9 miles away); Swamp Gum (approx. 2.1 miles away); Welcome to Ocean Beach (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Daly City.

More about this marker. Marker is located at the entrance to the trail to the duel site. The duel site is a short walk from the marker.

Regarding Broderick – Terry Duel. This site was designated as California Registered Historical Landmark No. 19 on June 1, 1932.

Also see . . .
1. The Broderick Terry Duel. Dueling was still considered a proper way to settle feuds in San Francisco in the 1850s. In 1936, San Francisco Municipal Court Judge Charles R. Boden spoke before a meeting of the California Historical Society about the Broderick-Terry duel, and his comments were published in society’s quarterly for December of that year. (Submitted on April 26, 2009.)

2. The Broderick - Terry Dual. (Submitted on March 29, 2010.)

Additional commentary.

Broderick – Terry Duel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 22, 2009

2. Broderick – Terry Duel Marker

1. From the Guide to Old Sacramento by Robert Miller, Published by River City Press, 1976:
In Old Sacramento on “L” Street there was the Magnolia Saloon. The saloon served as headquarters for Senators David Broderick and William Gwin. They were both Democrats and started out as allies but ended up as mortal enemies. As the Civil War approached their differences became more apparent. Broderick was a strong Unionist and Gwin was a Southern sympathizer. Gwin's friend and a hot-tempered protege, Chief Justice David S. Terry was so incensed by Broderick's pro-Union attitudes that he resigned his position, goaded Broderick into a duel, shooting and killing him. For a short time it appeared that California, under the thumb of pro-slavery leadership, would join the South, but Gwin was arrested on a boat heading for Washington, while attempting to recruit Union officers for the Confederacy. The pro-Southern firebrands eventually disbanded or, like Terry, fled to the South, leaving the state secure for the Union.

— Submitted May 3, 2009.

Directional Obelisk Located on Trail to Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 22, 2009

3. Directional Obelisk Located on Trail to Site

Western Side of Obelisk
Duel Site
Broderick
&
Terry
Sept. 13, 1859

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 22, 2009

4. Directional Obelisk Located on Trail to Site

Southern Side of Obelisk Duel Site [Arrow pointing east]

Chief Justice David S. Terry Stood at this Spot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 22, 2009

5. Chief Justice David S. Terry Stood at this Spot

U.S. Senator David C. Broderick Stood at this Spot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 22, 2009

6. U.S. Senator David C. Broderick Stood at this Spot

Broderick – Terry Duel Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 22, 2009

7. Broderick – Terry Duel Site

Terry Stood on the Left and Broderick Stood on the Right.

David Broderick image. Click for more information.

8. David Broderick

From the article The Last of the California Rangers (1928) by Jill L. Cossley-Batt
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David Terry image. Click for more information.

9. David Terry

From the article The Last of the California Rangers (1928) by Jill L. Cossley-Batt
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 5,177 times since then and 58 times this year. Last updated on April 7, 2023, by James King of San Miguel, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 26, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 8, 9. submitted on June 20, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.