Simon Cameron (March 8, 1799 – June 26, 1889) was an influential American businessman
and 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.
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 a powerful Republican party machine that continued to dominate Pennsylvania
politics long after his death.
== Early life == Simon Cameron was born in Maytown, Pennsylvania
in 1799, to Charles Cameron (d.
16 January 1814), son of Simon Cameron and Martha Pfoutz (1771-1830) (daughter of Conrad
Pfoutz / Foutz (1734 - 20 November 1808), a ranger during the American Revolution, and
Elizabeth Cameron (1733-1827)), and his wife Martha McLaughlin (d. abt. 10 Nov 1830), daughter
of Hugh McLaughlin.But the above personal information does not match the story that
he was orphaned at nine and later apprenticed to a printer, Andrew Kennedy, editor of the
Northumberland Gazette before entering the field of journalism.
It may be that he was apprenticed to Kennedy at age nine (~1808) for a then standard period
of seven years, and continued as a journeyman printer at age 16 (~1815).
He was the third of five sons; they had three younger sisters.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.
On 17 October 1822 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Cameron married Margaret Brua (1794-1875),
daughter of Peter Brua (19 Feb 1771 – 1 Jan 1842) and Catherine Rupley (1777 – 19
Jan 1832), the daughter of Johann Jacob Rupple alias Lieut.
Jacob Rupley.
Cameron purchased and ran the Harrisburg Republican in 1824.
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 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 US Senate.At the 1860 Republican National
Convention, Cameron controlled the votes of the Pennsylvania delegation.
He delivered those votes to Abraham Lincoln for the nomination for President, which was
decisive.
In return, Lincoln's managers promised a Cabinet post for Cameron.
When Lincoln became President, he reluctantly appointed Cameron Secretary of War.
His tenure was marked by allegations of corruption and lax management, and he was forced to resign
early in 1862.
His corruption was so notorious that US Representative Thaddeus Stevens (also from Pennsylvania),
when asked whether Cameron would steal, said "I don't think that he would steal a red hot
stove."
(Cameron demanded Stevens retract this insult.
Stevens said to 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 Stanton, who had been serving as
Cameron's legal advisor.
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.
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 succeed him.
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.
== See also == Simon Cameron House and Bank, Middletown,
Pennsylvania Simon Cameron House, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Simon Cameron School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania