John Martin Broomall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Martin Broomall
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 7th district |
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| In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869 |
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| Preceded by | John D. Stiles |
| Succeeded by | Washington Townsend |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
| In office 1851-1852 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | January 19, 1816 Upper Chichester Township, Pennsylvania |
| Died | June 3, 1894 (aged 78) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Republican |
John Martin Broomall (born January 19, 1816 – died June 3, 1894) was an important American politician from Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 7th district from 1863 to 1869. Before that, he was also a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County from 1851 to 1852.
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John Broomall's Early Life
John M. Broomall was born in Upper Chichester Township, Pennsylvania. His parents were John and Sarah (Martin) Broomall. He had a twin sister named Elizabeth Martin Broomall.
He went to a Quaker boarding school in Wilmington, Delaware. After finishing school, he started studying law. He learned from a famous lawyer named John Bouvier in Philadelphia. Later, he continued his law studies with U.S. Congressman Samuel Edwards. In 1840, he became a lawyer in Chester, Pennsylvania.
John Broomall's Career in Politics
John Broomall had a long career in law and politics. He held several important positions.
Starting His Political Journey
In 1848, Broomall became a deputy attorney general for Delaware County. This was an important legal role. He then served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1851 to 1852. He also worked on the State revenue board in 1854. He tried to get elected to the U.S. House in 1854 and 1858 but did not win.
In 1860, he was chosen as a delegate for the 1860 Republican National Convention. This was a big meeting where the Republican Party chose its candidate for president. He moved to Media, Pennsylvania, in 1860 and kept working as a lawyer.
Serving in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Broomall joined the Union Army. He was a Captain in the Pennsylvania Emergency Militia Infantry. He served from June to August 1863.
Time in the U.S. Congress
In 1862, Broomall was elected to the U.S. Congress as a Republican. He served three terms, from 1863 to 1869. He was strongly against slavery. He even signed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which ended slavery. He also wanted everyone to have the right to vote. During his last term, he led the United States House Committee on Accounts. He decided not to run for re-election in 1868.
Later Career and Public Service
After Congress, Broomall went back to practicing law in 1874. He and his law partner, William Ward, invested in real estate. They built homes in Chester, Pennsylvania. Broomall also helped write the State's new constitution.
In 1874, the Governor appointed him as a President Judge. He served in this role until January 1875. He was also the first president of the Delaware County Mutual Insurance Company. He was also the first president of the Chester Gas Company. He led the Law Library Association of the Delaware County bar. He was also president of the Delaware County Institute of Science.
John Broomall's Family Life
In 1841, John Broomall married Elizabeth Booth. They had two children together. One of their children was Anna Broomall, who became a pioneering woman doctor in Pennsylvania. John was a Quaker, but he married someone who was not a Quaker. Because of this, he was not allowed to take part in the business side of Quaker meetings anymore. However, he could still attend meetings and often spoke at the Providence Friends Meetinghouse.
His first wife, Elizabeth, passed away when she was young. In 1852, Broomall married Caroline Larkin. They had five more children together, and three of them lived to adulthood.
John Broomall died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1894. He is buried in the Media Cemetery in Media, Pennsylvania.
John Broomall's Legacy
John Martin Broomall is remembered in several ways.
Broomall, Pennsylvania
The community of Broomall, Pennsylvania is named after him. In 1868, near the end of his time in Congress, he helped set up a new post office there. The post office was named in his honor, and the community kept the name as it grew.
Broomall's Lake Country Club
In 1967, the Media Swimming and Rowing Club was renamed Broomall's Lake Country Club. This was done to honor John Broomall.
