Simon Cameron

Simon Cameron
File:Smn Cameron-SecofWar.jpg
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	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, founding the Bank of Middletown. 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 only served a year before resigning amidst corruption. Cameron became the minister to Russia during the Civil War, but was overseas for less than a year. He again served in the Senate, eventually being succeeded by his son, J. Donald Cameron, and only resigned from the Senate upon confirmation that his son would succeed him. Cameron built a powerful state party machine that would dominate Pennsylvania politics long after his death.

Early life

Simon Cameron was born in Maytown, Pennsylvania, 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. He was elected to replace James Buchanan in the United States Senate in 1845, serving until 1849. A persistent opponent of slavery, Cameron switched to the Know Nothing Party, before joining the Republican Party in 1856. In 1857, Cameron was again elected to the United States Senate.

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, however, 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." 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.

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. 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. Later that year, Cameron helped Rutherford B. Hayes win the Republican nomination in 1876. 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.

Later life

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

Quotes

• "An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought."
• "I am tired of all this sort of thing called science here... We have spent millions in that sort of thing for the last few years, and it is time it should be stopped." (on the Smithsonian Institution, 1861)

See also

• Simon Cameron House and Bank, Middletown, Pennsylvania
• Simon Cameron House, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Simon Cameron School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Further reading

• Bradley, Edwin Stanley. Simon Cameron, Lincoln's Secretary of War; a political biography. (1966)
• Crippen, Lee Forbes. Simon Cameron, Ante-Bellum Years. The Mississippi Valley Press (1942)

External links

• Simon Cameron biography in Secretaries of War and Secretaries of the Army a publication of the United States Army Center of Military History
• Spartacus Educational: Simon Cameron
• Mathew Brady Studio: Simon Cameron
• biographic sketch at U.S. Congress website
• Biography at Lincoln Institute
• Mr. Lincoln and Friends: Simon Cameron
• Simon Cameron at Find a Grave
• The John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion

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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