Businessman and politician, born in Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, USA. Orphaned at age nine and largely self-educated, he began as a manager of newspapers, then bought the Harrisburg, PA Republican (1824). This gained him influence in politics, which in turn brought lucrative contracts as the state printer, and he also branched out into other businesses including railroads and banking. He served Pennsylvania in the US Senate, first as a coalition Democrat (18459), then as a Republican (185761). He supported Lincoln at the Republican convention (1860) and was rewarded with the post of secretary of war, but he proved to be so corrupt and inefficient that in January 1862 Lincoln appointed him ambassador to Russia. He returned to run unsuccessfully for the Senate (1863) but, regaining control of the Republican party, he held the seat for 10 years (186777), resigning in order for his son, James Donald Cameron, to succeed him.
Simon Cameron|
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| 26th United States Secretary of War | |
|---|---|
| In office | |
| March 5, 1861 – January 14, 1862 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Holt |
| Succeeded by | Edwin M. Stanton |
| Born |
March 8, 1799 Maytown, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Died |
June 26, 1889 Maytown, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Political party | Whig, Democratic, Republican |
| Spouse | Margaret Brua Cameron |
| Profession | Journalist, Editor, Politician |
Simon Cameron (March 8, 1799 – June 26, 1889) was an American politician who served as United States Secretary of War for Abraham Lincoln from 1861 to 1862.
Cameron was born in Maytown, Pennsylvania, to Charles Cameron and Marth Pfoutz.
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.
Cameron retired to his farm at Donegal Springs near Maytown, Pennsylvania where he died on June 26, 1889.
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