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'''James Donald Cameron''' (May 14, 1833 – August 30, 1918), also known as '''Don Cameron''',<ref name=nytobit>August 31, 1918. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/08/31/97023154.pdf DON CAMERON DIES; 20 YEARS A SENATOR; Once Republican Leader of Pennsylvania, Aged 85, Spent Last Days on His Farm. GRANT'S WAR SECRETARY In Business He Started as Clerk in His Father's Bank--His $4,000,000 Estate in Trust. Mme. Helen von Doenhoff.] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref> was a Republican from [[Pennsylvania]] who served as the state's U.S. senator from two decades, spanning 1877 to 1897. A leader in GOP machine politics, he aligned with the [[Stalwart]] faction of the [[Republican Party]],<ref name=latinlibraryinfo>[http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/chron/civilwarnotes/garfield.html James Garfield (1831-1881)]. ''The Latin Library''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref> staunchly supporting business interests and [[civil rights]] for blacks.
==Background==
Cameron was born in Middleton, Pennsylvania (located in Dauphin County) to Simon Cameron and the former Margaret Brua. One of several children, he attended [[Princeton University]], where he graduated in 1852 and proceeded to receive a graduate degree three years later. Afterwards, Cameron became a cashier and bank clerk in Middleton for some period of time.<ref name=nytobit/>
From 1866 to 1874, Cameron was the president of the Pennsylvania Northern Central Railroad Company.
==Political career==
From 1876 to 1877, Cameron served as [[Secretary of War]] under the presidency of [[Ulysses S. Grant]].
===U.S. Senate===
In 1877, Cameron became a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania following the resignation of his father. Despite obtaining such an important post in addition to assuming leadership of the elder Cameron's political machine, his political skills were lacking, in addition to charisma.<ref name=quaybio>August 11, 2019. [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/08/11/matthew-quay-the-political-boss-who-made-two-presidents/ Matthew Quay: The Political Boss Who Made Two Presidents!] ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
During the [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 presidential election]], Cameron served as the chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]]. Aligned with congressional [[conservative]] Stalwarts led by [[Roscoe Conkling]],<ref name=latinlibraryinfo/> he supported nominating former president Grant to run for an unprecedented, non-consecutive third term.<ref>Weisberger, Bernard A. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/james-garfield-and-chester-arthur James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
Later in the 1880s, Cameron's leadership role in the Pennsylvania machine was replaced by that of Matthew S. Quay, who proved to surpass the former in influence and capabilities.<ref name=quaybio/>
In the 1896–97 elections, Cameron declined to run for another term due to the increasing intraparty power of Quay.<ref name=nytobit/>
==Later life and death==
In 1914 at the age of eighty-one, Cameron left four million dollars into a trust fund for his children and grandchildren.<ref>December 23, 1914. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1914/12/23/100126832.pdf $4,000,000 TRUST FUND FOR CAMERON HEIRS; Ex. Senator Provides That Income Shall be Divided Among Children and Grandchildren.] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
On August 30, 1918, Cameron died in his country home "Donegal" at the age of eighty-five, having been stricken with paralysis for three weeks and remaining unconscious for a period of time.<ref name=nytobit/> He is interred at Harrisburg Cemetery.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameron, J. Donald}}
[[Category:Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Banks]]
[[Category:Former United States Senators]]
==Background==
Cameron was born in Middleton, Pennsylvania (located in Dauphin County) to Simon Cameron and the former Margaret Brua. One of several children, he attended [[Princeton University]], where he graduated in 1852 and proceeded to receive a graduate degree three years later. Afterwards, Cameron became a cashier and bank clerk in Middleton for some period of time.<ref name=nytobit/>
From 1866 to 1874, Cameron was the president of the Pennsylvania Northern Central Railroad Company.
==Political career==
From 1876 to 1877, Cameron served as [[Secretary of War]] under the presidency of [[Ulysses S. Grant]].
===U.S. Senate===
In 1877, Cameron became a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania following the resignation of his father. Despite obtaining such an important post in addition to assuming leadership of the elder Cameron's political machine, his political skills were lacking, in addition to charisma.<ref name=quaybio>August 11, 2019. [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/08/11/matthew-quay-the-political-boss-who-made-two-presidents/ Matthew Quay: The Political Boss Who Made Two Presidents!] ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
During the [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 presidential election]], Cameron served as the chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]]. Aligned with congressional [[conservative]] Stalwarts led by [[Roscoe Conkling]],<ref name=latinlibraryinfo/> he supported nominating former president Grant to run for an unprecedented, non-consecutive third term.<ref>Weisberger, Bernard A. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/james-garfield-and-chester-arthur James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
Later in the 1880s, Cameron's leadership role in the Pennsylvania machine was replaced by that of Matthew S. Quay, who proved to surpass the former in influence and capabilities.<ref name=quaybio/>
In the 1896–97 elections, Cameron declined to run for another term due to the increasing intraparty power of Quay.<ref name=nytobit/>
==Later life and death==
In 1914 at the age of eighty-one, Cameron left four million dollars into a trust fund for his children and grandchildren.<ref>December 23, 1914. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1914/12/23/100126832.pdf $4,000,000 TRUST FUND FOR CAMERON HEIRS; Ex. Senator Provides That Income Shall be Divided Among Children and Grandchildren.] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 21, 2021.</ref>
On August 30, 1918, Cameron died in his country home "Donegal" at the age of eighty-five, having been stricken with paralysis for three weeks and remaining unconscious for a period of time.<ref name=nytobit/> He is interred at Harrisburg Cemetery.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameron, J. Donald}}
[[Category:Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Banks]]
[[Category:Former United States Senators]]