James Buchanan Jr. (/ bjuːˈkænən / ⓘ bew-KAN-ən; [3] – ) was the 15th president of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. He also served as the 17th United States secretary of state from 1845 to 1849 and represented Pennsylvania in both houses of the U.S. Congress.
James Buchanan was the 15th U.S. president, a Democrat whose efforts at compromise in the North-South conflict failed to avert the American Civil War.
James Buchanan brought to the presidency one of the most extensive political résumés of any U.S. leader. His career began in the Pennsylvania State Legislature before he entered the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for ten years.
Scholarly essays, speeches, photos, and other resources on James Buchanan, the 15th US president (1857-1861), including information about slavery, secession, and the coming of the Civil War
James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States (1857-1861), served immediately prior to the American Civil War. He remains the only President to be elected from Pennsylvania and to remain a lifelong bachelor.
Buchanan’s anti-climactic annual message reinforced the perception that the Buchanan White House was weak, and that the President simply wanted to avoid war until he left office. After Lincoln’s inauguration, Buchanan retired to Pennsylvania to live a relatively quiet life.
April 23 marks the birthday of James Buchanan, the man regarded by many historians as one of the worst presidents of all time. So what did Buchanan do to earn the disrespect of so many people?
In the lead-up to his inauguration, Buchanan and 400 others contracted a mysterious illness at Washington's National Hotel. Three dozen died from the " Buchanan Grip." In his inaugural address, Buchanan committed to serving only one term. Buchanan is the only president to have never married.