Angus Cameron (American politician)

Angus Cameron (July 4, 1826 – March 30, 1897) was an American lawyer, banker, and politician who served ten years as United States Senator from Wisconsin. He also served as the 18th Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly and served two terms in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing La Crosse County.

Angus Cameron
United States senator from Wisconsin
In office March 14, 1881 – March 3, 1885
Preceded by	Matthew H. Carpenter
Succeeded by	John Coit Spooner
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1881
Preceded by	Matthew H. Carpenter
Succeeded by	Philetus Sawyer
18th Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office January 9, 1867 – January 8, 1868
Preceded by	Henry D. Barron
Succeeded by	Alexander McDonald Thomson
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 31st district
In office January 1, 1871 – January 1, 1873
Preceded by	Cyrus M. Butt
Succeeded by	Gideon C. Hixon
In office January 1, 1863 – January 1, 1865
Preceded by	Edwin Flint
Succeeded by	John A. Chandler
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the La Crosse 1st district
In office January 1, 1866 – January 1, 1868
Preceded by	Townsend N. Horton
Succeeded by	Theodore Rodolf
Personal details
Born	(1826-07-04)July 4, 1826 Caledonia, New York
Died	March 30, 1897(1897-03-30) (aged 70) La Crosse, Wisconsin
Resting place	Oak Grove Cemetery La Crosse, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Papillon Barker Baker (died 1907)
Children	None.
Mother	Sarah McColl Cameron
Father	Duncan A. Cameron
Profession	lawyer, banker, politician

Early life and career

Cameron was born in Caledonia, New York on July 4, 1826, the fifth child of seven born to Scottish American immigrants Duncan and Sarah McColl Cameron. He attended Temple Hill Academy in Geneseo, New York, and then the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima, New York, which is now Syracuse University. He later studied law with the firm of Wadsworth and Cameron in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from the State and National Law School in 1853, was admitted to the bar, and practiced with Wadsworth and Cameron. He later formed a partnership with Frederick H. Wing, which was active in banking as Cameron & Wing.

Political career

In 1857 Cameron moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he continued his legal and banking careers. Initially a Whig, he joined the Republican Party when it was founded in the mid-1850s. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1863 to 1864 and 1871 to 1872. He was a delegate to the 1864 National Union National Convention. From 1866 to 1867 he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, and he was Speaker of the Assembly in the 1867 session.

Cameron also served on the University of Wisconsin–Madison Board of Regents from 1866 to 1875, and helped found Christ Church of La Crosse.

In February 1875 the Wisconsin State Legislature, in joint session, elected Cameron to the United States Senate, and he served from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1881. He did not seek reelection in 1881. During this term he was appointed chairman of a committee to investigate alleged election fraud in South Carolina during the disputed United States presidential election of 1876.

In February 1881 Senator Matthew H. Carpenter died in office, and on March 10 Cameron was elected to complete the remaining four years of his six-year term. Cameron took his seat on March 14, and served until March 3, 1885. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1885.

Death and legacy

After leaving the Senate Cameron returned to his banking and legal interests. He died in La Crosse on March 30, 1897, and was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse.[1]

Cameron Park in downtown La Crosse was named for him. The village of Cameron, in Barron County, was also named for him.

Notes

1. "Cameron, Angus 1826 - 1897 | Wisconsin Historical Society". Wisconsin Historical Society. 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2018-06-30.

External links

• United States Congress. "Angus Cameron (id: C000064)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Angus Cameron at Find a Grave

Wisconsin State Senate
Preceded by Edwin Flint	Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 31st district 1863 – 1865	Succeeded by John A. Chandler
Preceded by Cyrus M. Butt	Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 31st district 1871 – 1873	Succeeded by Gideon C. Hixon
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Matthew H. Carpenter	U.S. senator (Class 1) from Wisconsin 1875 – 1881 Served alongside: Timothy O. Howe, Matthew H. Carpenter	Succeeded by Philetus Sawyer
Preceded by Matthew H. Carpenter	U.S. senator (Class 3) from Wisconsin 1881 – 1885 Served alongside: Philetus Sawyer	Succeeded by John C. Spooner
Political offices
Preceded by Henry D. Barron	Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly 1867 – 1868	Succeeded by Alexander McDonald Thomson