Angus Cameron (American politician)

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 State 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 Alonzo 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, U.S.
Died	March 30, 1897(1897-03-30) (aged 70) La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Oak Grove Cemetery La Crosse, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Papillon Baker ​ ​ (m. 1856⁠–⁠1897)​
Children	None.
Parents	Duncan A. Cameron (father) Sarah McColl Cameron (mother)
Alma mater	Genesee Wesleyan Seminary State and National Law School
Profession	lawyer, banker, politician
Signature

Angus Cameron (July 4, 1826 – March 30, 1897) was a Scottish American lawyer, banker, and Republican politician from La Crosse, Wisconsin. He served ten years as a United States Senator, representing Wisconsin from 1875 to 1885. He earlier served as the 18th speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly and served four years in the Wisconsin Senate representing La Crosse County.

Early life and career

Angus Cameron was born in the town of 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 in a law partnership known as Wadsworth & Cameron. He later formed a business 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 was twice elected to the Wisconsin Senate, serving first in the 1863 and 1864 terms, then again in 1871 and 1872. He was a delegate to the 1864 National Union National Convention. He was elected to two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving in the 1866 and 1867 terms; he was elected speaker of the Assembly for the 1867 term.

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

In February 1875 the Wisconsin 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.

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

External links

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