Simon Cameron

Simon Cameron
26th United States Secretary of War
In office
March 5, 1861 – January 14, 1862
President Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by Joseph Holt
Succeeded by Edwin M. Stanton
United States Senator
from Pennsylvania
In office
March 13, 1845 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by James Buchanan
Succeeded by James Cooper
In office
March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by Richard Brodhead
Succeeded by David Wilmot
In office
March 4, 1867 – March 12, 1877
Preceded by Edgar Cowan
Succeeded by J. Donald Cameron
Personal details
Born (1799-03-08)March 8, 1799
Maytown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died June 26, 1889(1889-06-26) (aged 90)
Maytown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party Whig, Democratic, Republican
Spouse(s) Margaret Brua Cameron
Profession Politician, Journalist, Editor
Signature

Simon Cameron (March 8, 1799 – June 26, 1889) was an American politician who served as United States Secretary of War for Abraham Lincoln at the start of the American Civil War.

Cameron made his fortune in railways, canals and banking, and founded the Bank of Middletown.[1] He then turned to a life of politics. He became a U.S. senator in 1845 for the state of Pennsylvania, succeeding James Buchanan. Originally a Democrat, he failed to secure a nomination for senator from the Know-Nothing party, and joined the People's Party, the Pennsylvania branch of what became the Republican Party. He won the Senate seat in 1857, and became one of the candidates for the Republican nomination in the presidential election of 1860.

Cameron gave his support to Abraham Lincoln, and became his Secretary of War. He served only a year before resigning amidst allegations of disorganization and corruption during the early phases of the American Civil War. Cameron then became the minister to Russia, but was overseas for less than a year.

Beginning in 1867, he again served in the Senate; he was succeeded by his son, J. Donald Cameron in 1877, and only resigned upon confirmation that his son would succeed him.

After leaving the senate, Cameron lived in retirement, but still participated in politics and tended to his many business interests. He died in 1889 and was buried in Harrisburg.

Cameron's chief legacy was powerful Republican party machine that continued to dominate Pennsylvania politics long after his death.

Early life

Simon Cameron was born in Maytown, Pennsylvania,[1] to Charles Cameron and Martha Pfoutz. He was orphaned at nine and later apprenticed to a printer, Andrew Kennedy, editor of the Northumberland Gazette before entering the field of journalism. He was editor of the Bucks County Messenger in 1821. A year later, he moved to Washington, D.C., and studied political movements while working for the printing firm of Gales and Seaton. He married Margaret Brua and returned to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he purchased and ran the Republican in 1824.

Portrait of Simon Cameron by Freeman Thorp.

Cameron served as state printer of Pennsylvania from 1825 until 1827, and was state adjutant general in 1826. He constructed several rail lines and merged them into the Northern Central Railway. He founded the Bank of Middletown in 1832 and engaged in other business enterprises. In 1838, he was appointed as commissioner to settle claims of the Winnebago Indians.

Politics

Cameron as a senator favoring greenbacks, Harper's Weekly, June 6, 1874

Cameron began his political career as a Democrat, supporting the campaigns of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.[2] He was elected to replace James Buchanan in the United States Senate in 1845, serving until 1849.[1] A persistent opponent of slavery, Cameron switched to the Know Nothing Party, before joining the Republican Party in 1856.[3] In 1857, Cameron was again elected to the United States Senate.[1]

Cameron was nominated for President, but gave his support to Abraham Lincoln at the 1860 Republican National Convention. Lincoln, as part of a political bargain, named Cameron Secretary of War. Because of allegations of corruption and lax management, he was forced to resign early in 1862. His corruption was so notorious that a Pennsylvania congressman, Thaddeus Stevens, when discussing Cameron's honesty with Lincoln, told Lincoln that "I don't think that he would steal a red hot stove."[1] When Cameron demanded Stevens retract this statement, Stevens told Lincoln "I believe I told you he would not steal a red-hot stove. I will now take that back." Cameron was succeeded as Secretary of War by Edwin M. Stanton, who had been serving as a legal advisor to the War Secretary. Cameron then served as Minister to Russia.[1]

Cameron's brother, James Cameron, colonel of the 79th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, was killed in action at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861.

Simon Cameron

Cameron made a political comeback after the Civil War, building a powerful state party machine that would dominate Pennsylvania politics for the next seventy years.[3] In 1866, Cameron was again elected to the Senate. Cameron convinced his close friend Ulysses S. Grant to appoint his son, James Donald Cameron, as Secretary of War in 1876.[3] Later that year, Cameron helped Rutherford B. Hayes win the Republican nomination in 1876.[3] Cameron resigned from the Senate in 1877 after assuring that his son would be the successor to his seat. Though Cameron had intended for his son to succeed him as head of the state machine, Matthew Quay ultimately succeeded Cameron as the party boss.[4]

Later life

Cameron retired to his farm at Donegal Springs Cameron Estate near Maytown, Pennsylvania where he died on June 26, 1889.[1] He is buried in the Harrisburg Cemetery in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[1] Cameron County, Pennsylvania and Cameron Parish, Louisiana are named in his honor.

Quotes

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Cameron, Fritchie are luminaries of era". Intelligencer Journal. 2011-02-07. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  2. ↑ "Simon Cameron". Tulane.edu. Tulane. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Simon Cameron Historical Marker". Explore PA History.com. WITF. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Blair, William Alan (April 1989). "A Practical Politician: The Boss Tactics of William Stanley Quay". Pennsylvania History. 56 (2): 78–89.
  5. ↑ Allen Johnson (1918). Chronicles of America Series. Yale University Press.
  6. ↑ Funny Science Quotes - Funny Quotes about Science

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simon Cameron.
Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article about Simon Cameron.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
United States Senate
Preceded by
James Buchanan		 U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Pennsylvania
March 13, 1845 – March 3, 1849
Served alongside: Daniel Sturgeon		 Succeeded by
James Cooper
Preceded by
Richard Brodhead		 U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Pennsylvania
March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861
Served alongside: William Bigler, Edgar Cowan		 Succeeded by
David Wilmot
Preceded by
Edgar Cowan		 U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Pennsylvania
March 4, 1867 – March 12, 1877
Served alongside: Charles R. Buckalew, John Scott, William A. Wallace		 Succeeded by
J. Donald Cameron
Political offices
Preceded by
Joseph Holt		 U.S. Secretary of War
Served under: Abraham Lincoln
March 5, 1861 – January 14, 1862 		Succeeded by
Edwin M. Stanton
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Cassius Marcellus Clay		 United States Minister to Russia
January 17, 1862 – September 18, 1862 		Succeeded by
Cassius Marcellus Clay
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Joseph Cilley		 Oldest living U.S. Senator
September 16, 1887 – June 26, 1889 		Succeeded by
David Meriwether
Preceded by
Henry Foster		 Most Senior Living U.S. Senator
(Sitting or Former)
May 11, 1889 – June 26, 1889 		Succeeded by
Alpheus Felch
and James W. Bradbury
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