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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.[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 a powerful Republican party machine that continued to dominate Pennsylvania politics long after his death.
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 a powerful Republican party machine that continued to dominate Pennsylvania politics long after his death.
Simon Cameron - Wikipedia
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Chicago Civil War Roundtable March 2017 - Paul Kahan: Simon Cameron, Lincoln's 1st Sec of War
Simon Cameron (1799–1889) was one of the nineteenth century’s most prominent political figures. From abject poverty, he rose to undisputed political boss of ...
Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that March 8 is the anniversary of the birth of influential American businessman who made his fortune in railways, canals and banking, and founded the Bank of Middletown Simon Cameron who served as United States Secretary of War for Abraham Lincoln at the start of the American Civil War.
Background from nps.gov/people/simon-cameron.htm
"Simon Cameron was born on [March 8] 1799 in Maytown, Pennsylvania. Orphaned at the age of nine, he was forced to work in printing and editing and during the early 1820s he worked briefly for congressional printers in Washington D.C., where he learned about national politics and established important political connections. In 1824, he returned to Pennsylvania, to run the Republican newspaper and was soon implementing considerable influence in state and national politics.
Ambitious and materialistic, Simon Cameron set his sights higher than state politics and won a seat in the United States Senate as a Democrat in 1844. Although not re-elected at the end of his term, Cameron joined the new Republican Party and was returned to the Senate in 1857. He would remain a Republican for the remainder of his career and was largely responsible for making the Pennsylvania Republican party an efficient political machine.
Though a candidate for president in 1860, Cameron threw his support to Abraham Lincoln during the Republican National Convention, for which he was rewarded with the appointment as Secretary of War upon Lincoln's election. After less than a year in office, however, Cameron was replaced due to allegations of corruption and was appointed minister to Russia. After the Civil War, Cameron was again elected to the senate in 1867, joining the Radical Republicans. He remained active in politics until his death in 1889.
"Simon Cameron (1799–1889) was one of the nineteenth century’s most prominent political figures. From abject poverty, he rose to undisputed political boss of Pennsylvania, Lincoln’s secretary of war, senator, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a founder of the Republican Party. In his wake, however, he left a series of questionable political and business dealings and, at the age of eighty, even a sex scandal.
In the popular mind, Simon Cameron is chiefly remembered for two things, his breathtaking personal corruption and a dismal record of incompetence as Abraham Lincoln's first Secretary of War.
On March 10th Cameron’s latest biographer, Paul Kahan, will contend that both conclusions are grossly oversimplified. In Kahan's view, there is much to admire in Cameron, who rose to the heights of state and national power, demonstrating along the way strong loyalty to friends and allies while spending an entire political career tirelessly promoting the interests of his home state of Pennsylvania. An anti-slavery moderate, he was also comparatively liberal on race.
Paul Kahan is a lecturer at Ohlone College in Fremont, California. Dr. Kahan earned a Ph.D. in U.S. history from Temple University, an M.A. in Modern American History & Literature from Drew University and B.A.s in history and English (with minors in medieval/Renaissance studies and music) from Alfred University. In 2008, Dr. Kahan published his first book, Eastern State Penitentiary: A History. His most recent book, Amiable Scoundrel: Simon Cameron, Lincoln's Scandalous Secretary of War, was published in 2016. Kirkus called it "A fine political biography" while the San Francisco Book Review said it was "Essential for any Civil War historian’s library."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRPcxbc0Sbk
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG William Jones SSG Diane R.
Background from nps.gov/people/simon-cameron.htm
"Simon Cameron was born on [March 8] 1799 in Maytown, Pennsylvania. Orphaned at the age of nine, he was forced to work in printing and editing and during the early 1820s he worked briefly for congressional printers in Washington D.C., where he learned about national politics and established important political connections. In 1824, he returned to Pennsylvania, to run the Republican newspaper and was soon implementing considerable influence in state and national politics.
Ambitious and materialistic, Simon Cameron set his sights higher than state politics and won a seat in the United States Senate as a Democrat in 1844. Although not re-elected at the end of his term, Cameron joined the new Republican Party and was returned to the Senate in 1857. He would remain a Republican for the remainder of his career and was largely responsible for making the Pennsylvania Republican party an efficient political machine.
Though a candidate for president in 1860, Cameron threw his support to Abraham Lincoln during the Republican National Convention, for which he was rewarded with the appointment as Secretary of War upon Lincoln's election. After less than a year in office, however, Cameron was replaced due to allegations of corruption and was appointed minister to Russia. After the Civil War, Cameron was again elected to the senate in 1867, joining the Radical Republicans. He remained active in politics until his death in 1889.
"Simon Cameron (1799–1889) was one of the nineteenth century’s most prominent political figures. From abject poverty, he rose to undisputed political boss of Pennsylvania, Lincoln’s secretary of war, senator, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a founder of the Republican Party. In his wake, however, he left a series of questionable political and business dealings and, at the age of eighty, even a sex scandal.
In the popular mind, Simon Cameron is chiefly remembered for two things, his breathtaking personal corruption and a dismal record of incompetence as Abraham Lincoln's first Secretary of War.
On March 10th Cameron’s latest biographer, Paul Kahan, will contend that both conclusions are grossly oversimplified. In Kahan's view, there is much to admire in Cameron, who rose to the heights of state and national power, demonstrating along the way strong loyalty to friends and allies while spending an entire political career tirelessly promoting the interests of his home state of Pennsylvania. An anti-slavery moderate, he was also comparatively liberal on race.
Paul Kahan is a lecturer at Ohlone College in Fremont, California. Dr. Kahan earned a Ph.D. in U.S. history from Temple University, an M.A. in Modern American History & Literature from Drew University and B.A.s in history and English (with minors in medieval/Renaissance studies and music) from Alfred University. In 2008, Dr. Kahan published his first book, Eastern State Penitentiary: A History. His most recent book, Amiable Scoundrel: Simon Cameron, Lincoln's Scandalous Secretary of War, was published in 2016. Kirkus called it "A fine political biography" while the San Francisco Book Review said it was "Essential for any Civil War historian’s library."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRPcxbc0Sbk
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG William Jones SSG Diane R.
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