Simon Cameron

Simon Cameron (March 8, 1799–June 26, 1889) was United States Secretary of War for Abraham Lincoln from 1861 to 1862.

Related Topics:
March 8 - 1799 - June 26 - 1889 - United States Secretary of War - Abraham Lincoln - 1861 - 1862

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Cameron was born in Maytown, Pennsylvania. He was orphaned at nine and later apprenticed to a printer before entering the field of journalism. He was editor of the Bucks County Messenger in 1821. A year later, he moved to Washington 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.

Related Topics:
Maytown, Pennsylvania - Orphaned - Apprenticed - Printer - Journalism - Editor - 1821 - Washington - Political movements - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - 1824

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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 Railroad. 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.

Related Topics:
1825 - 1827 - Adjutant general - 1826 - Rail lines - Northern Central Railroad - 1832 - 1838 - Commissioner - Winnebago Indians

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He became a Whig Party member, and later became a member of the Democratic Party, before being elected to replace James Buchanan in the Senate in 1845. He switched to the Republican Party and was nominated for President, but gave his support for Lincoln at the Republican National Convention of 1860. Lincoln, as part of a political bargain, named him Secretary of War. Because of allegations of corruption, however, he was forced to resign early in 1862.

Related Topics:
Whig Party - Democratic Party - James Buchanan - Senate - 1845 - Republican Party - President - Republican National Convention - 1860 - Corruption

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In 1867, Cameron was again elected to the Senate and served there until 1877, when on assurances from the Pennsylvania legislature that his son, James Donald Cameron would be the successor to his seat, he resigned. His son had already been named as Secretary of War in 1876.

Related Topics:
1867 - 1877 - Legislature - James Donald Cameron - 1876

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He retired to his farm in Donegal Springs, Pennsylvania where he died on June 26, 1889.

Related Topics:
Farm - Donegal Springs, Pennsylvania - June 26 - 1889

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Cameron County, Pennsylvania and Cameron Parish, Louisiana are named in his honor.

Related Topics:
Cameron County, Pennsylvania - Cameron Parish, Louisiana

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