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Pistols at Dawn: The Senator, the Judge, and the Duel That Shook California
Paperback
Series: True Crime
Political BiographiesRegional: West
Publisher Price: $24.99
ISBN13: 9781467172394
Publisher: History Press
Published: Nov 10 2026
Pages: 144
Language: English
Politics and power in Gold Rush California
At the north end of a quiet neighborhood in Daly City lies a historical marker noting the site of California's most infamous -- and deadly -- duel. The San Francisco of 1859 had grown rapidly, with treasure seekers from all corners of the globe converging to find their own fortune, either through prospecting or, more lucratively, catering to the needs of those prospectors.
Out of the muddy streets and the chaos, two leaders emerged whose actions would have an outsized influence on the course of American politics for decades. David S. Terry, the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and U.S. Senator David Broderick were both determined to steer the fate of the new state, but in very different directions. At the heart of their rivalry lay the fight against slavery, with Senator Broderick advocating for California to remain a free state.
On September 13, 1859, their arguments came to a head in a duel that ended with Senator Broderick shot and mortally wounded. He died three days later, but the outcome would haunt David Terry for another thirty years.
Author William E. Hammonds explores the twists and turns of the duel for the future of Gold Rush California.
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