Broome, Jacob

Jacob Broome was born on October 17, 1752 in Delaware. His father, James Broome, was a blacksmith who later became a wealthy farmer , his mother was Esther Willis, a Quaker . In 1773, he married Rachel Pierce, from whom he had eight children.

Having received secondary education at Wilmington Old School, he alternately was a farmer, topographer and cartographer , shipowner, real estate and imported goods merchant. Even in his youth, Broome attracted much of Wilmington's thriving business community; this prominence gave impetus to his political career. He held a number of local government posts, such as the district court judge, president of the city's "street traffic controllers" (the group that was responsible for the streets, water and sewage systems, the world court) of New Castle County. In 1776, at the age of 24, he became vice mayor of Wilmington and was elected to this position six times in a row. Also 4 times was the mayor of the city. He never lost the election.

Although the pacifist influence of his Quaker friends and relatives kept him from participating in the revolution , Broome was undoubtedly a patriot who contributed to the cause of independence. For example, he offered his skills as a cartographer in the disposition of the Continental Army and drew up detailed maps of the region for General Washington shortly before the Battle of Brandywine . Broome's political outlook expanded after his community nominated him as state representative at the Annapolis Convention.

Despite his inadequate participation in national politics before the Constitutional Convention, Broome was a staunch supporter of strong centralized power. When George Washington visited Wilmington in 1783, Broome urged him to “promote, through his advice and influence, the harmony and unification of our germinal authorities that are so important to the lifelong installation of our freedom, happiness and prosperity.”

With such convictions, Broome came to Philadelphia , where he constantly voted for measures that would ensure a significant government response to state needs. He supported a nine-year term for Senate members, in which all states should be equally represented. He wanted state legislatures to pay for their representatives in Congress , which in turn should have the power to veto state bills. He also sought to give state legislatures the right to elect members of the electoral college , and also advocated for a lifelong presidential term. Broome regularly attended all meetings of the Philadelphia Convention and delivered several speeches on issues that he considered critical. William Pierce , a delegate from the state of Georgia , described him as "a simple good person, with some abilities, but nothing ostentatious, silent in public, but peppy and sociable face to face."

After the Convention, Broome returned to Wilmington, where in 1795 he built a house near Brandywine Creek on the outskirts of the city. Broome focused on local government . In addition to his duties at Wilmington Municipality, he became the first city postmaster (1790-1792).

For many years, he chaired the board of directors of the Wilmington Bank of Delaware. He also ran a cotton factory and equipment store, which manufactured and repaired factory equipment. In 1802, he sold Du Pontus his cotton farm, which later became the center of the manufactory empire Du Pont . Broome also participated in an unsuccessful project for the extraction of brown iron ore , later became interested in local improvements: toll roads, canals and bridges.

Broome found time for philanthropic and religious activities. His long relationship with the Old School led to his involvement in the reorganization of the school at Wilmington College; Broome also became a member of the college’s first board of trustees.

Broome died in 1810 during a business trip to Philadelphia and was buried in Christ Church Cemetery.

In 1974, his house near Brandywine became a national historic landmark.

• Life & Character of Jacob Broom, by Rev. William W. Campbell, Historical Society of Delaware, Wilmington, 1909.
• Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution, by Robert K. Wright, Jr. and Morris J. MacGregor, Jr., Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, DC, 1987.