Cameron, Simon (1799–1889)

US political leader. He served two partial terms in the US Senate 1845–49 and 1857–60. A supporter of Abraham Lincoln at the 1860 Republican nominating convention, he was appointed secretary of war at the outbreak of the American Civil War 1861. A dismal failure in that position, Cameron was named minister to Russia 1862. After the end of the war 1865 he returned to the Senate 1867–77.

Cameron was born in Maytown, Pennsylvania, USA. He was trained as a printer, became a newspaper editor in Harrisburg, and then embarked on a political career. He acquired wealth through investments in transport and industry.