CAMERON, Simon, American statesman: b. Donegal, Lancaster County, Pa., 8 March 1799; d. there, 26 June 1889. He learned print ing and in 1820 he was editor of a in Doylestewn, Pa., and in 1822 held a similar post in Harrisburg. He then interested himself in banking and the building of railroads, and for a time served as adjutant-general of Penn. sylvania. In 1838 he was commissioner to settle accounts with the Winnebago Indians and was accused of swindling them. From 1845 to 1849 he was United States senator from Pennsyl vania, elected by the Democratic party. He became a member of the Republican party on its formation, and in 1856 was again elected United States senator. He was unsuccessfully Supported for the offices 'both President and Vice-President in the. National Convention of 1860, and in 1861 was appointed Secretary of War by President Lincoln. He advocated the arming of fugitive slaves and other extreme measures. In January 1862 he resigned from the Cabinet, and was appointed Minister to Russia. He succeeded in gaining the support
of the Russian government for the Union. In November of the same year he resigned, and lived in retirement till 1866, when he was again elected to the United States Senate. In 1872 he became chairman of the Committee on for eign Affairs. In 1877 he retired from the Senate in favor of his son, James Donald Cameron. His influence over the Republican party was strong, and his power in the politics of his State practically absolute. The control was transferred later to M. S. Quay and Boies Penrose. Cameron was the first powerful State Those' in American politics. His ideals may be gathered from his definition of an honest politician as tone who will stay bought when he is bought)) He was a vigorous op ponent of civil service reform during the ad ministration of President Hayes. Consult McClure, 'Old Time Notes of Pennsylvania) (2 vols., Philadelphia 1905).