John Broderick

John Broderick was born at Black Rock, Buffalo, N. Y., in 1849, and acquired his education in the public schools. He entered on his lakefaring life in 1863 as cabinboy on the passenger steamer May Queen, plying betweeen Cleveland and Detroit, finishing the season on the B. F. Wade. In 1864 he shipped as oiler on the same boat and held the berth two seasons, in the spring of 1866 going as oiler on the propeller Illinois. In 1867 he took out engineer's papers and was appointed second engineer of the river tug Stranger, following this service by two years on the tug Masters and one year on the tug Kate Moffat in that same capacity. In the spring of 1871 he was appointed chief engineer of the tug Gladstone, retaining that position two years, and in 1873 transferring to the tug Thomas Quayle, which he also ran for two seasons. In 1875 he was made chief engineer of the wrecking tug Prince Albert. In 1876 he took charge of the machinery of the steamer Jarvis Lord, but finished the season as chief of the propeller Fairbanks, taking her out again the next season. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Broderick brought out new the steamer Samuel Mather, the following season, transferring to the Horace B. Tuttle, and in 1881 he was made chief engineer of the steamer Harry Chisholm. In 1882 he entered the employ of the American Boiler Insurance Company as inspector of boilers, and continued with them two years. In the spring of 1884 he took out the John Gregory; in 1885 he took the steamer Henry Chisholm as chief engineer, remaining on her three seasons; in 1888 he wsa chief engineer of the propeller Oregon; in 1889-90 chief engineer of the steamer J. C. Gilchrist; in 1891 chief of the V. Swain; in 1892-93 chief on the steamer St. Paul; in 1894-95 chief of the Rhoda Emily; in 1896 chief of the St. Paul, laying up this boat at the close of the season.

In 1872, at Marine City, Mich., Mr. Broderick was wedded to Miss Flora McDougall, of Wallaceburg, Ont., and one son, Laughlin Bernard, was born to this union.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.