In 1860 , Cowan was a delegate pledged to Simon Cameron at the Republican National Convention , and backed Cameron until Cameron gave his support to Abraham Lincoln . In early 1861 , Cowan was the Cameron-backed candidate for a U.S. Senate seat , and won the election held by the Pennsylvania legislature . He served one term , 1861 to 1867 , and was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office for most of his Senate career . Cowan became a supporter of Andrew Johnson 's plan for post-Civil War Reconstruction , which cost him the support of Cameron 's Republican organization in Pennsylvania . Cowan was defeated for reelection to the Senate , and Radical Republicans who opposed Johnson then blocked Cowan 's appointment as U.S. Minister to Austria
Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
Edgar Cowan