J. Melville Broughton

Broughton was born on November 17, 1888 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He graduated from Wake Forest College, where he also played football, in 1910. Broughton attended Harvard Law School then worked as a school principal and journalist before actively entering the legal profession. He served in the North Carolina Senate from 1927 to 1929. As governor, one of his major legacies was the extension of the public school term from six to nine months.

Broughton was among twelve nominated at the 1944 Democratic National Convention to serve as Franklin D. Roosevelt's running mate in the presidential election that year.[1] In 1948, Broughton was elected to the United States Senate, after defeating William B. Umstead, an appointed incumbent, in the Democratic primary.[2] In November, Broughton won both a special election to complete the Senate term[3] and an election for a full term.[4] He took office on December 31, 1948, but his service in the Senate was brief.

Appearing healthy, Broughton suddenly collapsed from a heart attack and died in Washington D.C. on March 6, 1949. Governor W. Kerr Scott appointed Frank Porter Graham to fill his vacant office until the next election.[5]

Joseph Melville Broughton, Jr. was the son of Joseph Melville Broughton and Sallie Harris. He married Alice Wilson in 1916, they had four children. He was the nephew of Needham B. Broughton.[6] He was interred at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh.

In 1959, the State Hospital at Morganton for psychiatric patients was renamed Broughton Hospital in his memory.[7] In addition, Broughton Hall at North Carolina State University was named in his honor.[8]

He was a member of Civitan International.[9]

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

United States Congress. "BROUGHTON, Joseph Melville (id: B000894)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. at Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

• National Governors Association biography
• North Carolina Historical Marker
• NCPedia - Joseph Melville Broughton