The New Student's Reference Work/Cameron, Simon

Cam'eron, Simon, an American senator, was born in Pennsylvania, March 8, 1799. He was elected to the United States senate in 1845, and acted with the Democratic party. After the repeal of the Missouri Compromise he allied himself with the Republican party, and was again elected to the senate. His name was proposed for president in the Republican convention of 1860, and under President Lincoln he became secretary of war. After two years he resigned and was appointed minister to Russia. Again elected to the senate, he became chairman of the committee on foreign relations. In 1877 he resigned, and was succeeded by his son, J. Donald Cameron. He died June 26, 1889.