Broughton's place of birth is listed as Chesterfield, New Hampshire in The Granite Monthly, Volume 26. 1899, edited by Henry Harrison Metcalf, John Norris McClintock Other sources suggest he was born in Meriden, Sullivan County, New Hampshire.

In 1845, Broughton graduated from Dartmouth College with high honors. He studied law, then became the editor of the Vermont Phoenix for a year before partnering with William B. Hale to found the Eagle, a semi-weekly newspaper devoted to the Whig party. From 1847 to 1850 he served as Register of Probate for Windham County (Vermont).

President Filmore appointed Broughton as secretary to Utah, then a territory, in 1850. Disagreements with Utah governor Brigham Young led Broughton's group to leave the territory without turning over funds which Utah expected to receive from the federal government.

Broughton declined an appointment as acting governor of New Mexico Territory, and returned to Vermont, where he served in the State Vermont State Senate in 1860 and 1861. He was a delegate to the Washington, D.C. Peace Conference that unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the start of the Civil War. He later became a partner in Harris Brothers & Company, one of the country's leading railroad construction corporations, and also served as President of the Brattleboro Savings Bank.

Broughton married Sarah Buell Hollister on March 24, 1851 in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Broughton's place of birth is listed as Chesterfield, New Hampshire in The Granite Monthly, Volume 26. 1899, edited by Henry Harrison Metcalf, John Norris McClintock Other sources suggest he was born in Meriden, Sullivan County, New Hampshire.

In 1845, Broughton graduated from Dartmouth College with high honors. He studied law, then became the editor of the Vermont Phoenix for a year before partnering with William B. Hale to found the Eagle, a semi-weekly newspaper devoted to the Whig party. From 1847 to 1850 he served as Register of Probate for Windham County (Vermont).

President Filmore appointed Broughton as secretary to Utah, then a territory, in 1850. Disagreements with Utah governor Brigham Young led Broughton's group to leave the territory without turning over funds which Utah expected to receive from the federal government.

Broughton declined an appointment as acting governor of New Mexico Territory, and returned to Vermont, where he served in the State Vermont State Senate in 1860 and 1861. He was a delegate to the Washington, D.C. Peace Conference that unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the start of the Civil War. He later became a partner in Harris Brothers & Company, one of the country's leading railroad construction corporations, and also served as President of the Brattleboro Savings Bank.

Broughton married Sarah Buell Hollister on March 24, 1851 in Brattleboro, Vermont.