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James Buchanan Biography

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Fifteenth President of the United States

Years Served as President:

Vice President: John Cabell Breckinridge

Party: Democrat

Age at Inauguration: 65

Home State:Pennsylvania

Date of Birth: April 23,

Died: June 1,

Married: Never married

Children: None

Nickname: Ten Cent Jimmy, Old Buck

What is James Buchanan known for?

James Buchanan is most famous for being the last president before the American Civil War broke out.

Although he tried to keep the United States out of war, most of his policies only divided the states more.

James buchanan

James Buchanan was a complex figure in American history, who served as the 15th President of the United States during a tumultuous period in the country’s history. Despite his many accomplishments as a lawyer, diplomat, and public servant, Buchanan’s presidency is often remembered for his failure to prevent the secession of Southern states.

He is considered the worst U.S. president by many historians.

Early Life

James Buchanan was born in in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania. His father was an Irish immigrant who worked as a merchant.

Buchanan attended Dickinson College. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in He soon opened his own successful practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Family Life

James Buchanan was the only U.S.

president who was never married. He was engaged to Ann Coleman in , but the wedding was called off later that year.

Coleman’s unexpected death soon afterward was rumored to be a suicide, and Buchanan was not allowed to attend her funeral.

Political and Military Career

From to , Buchanan served in the Pennsylvania legislature.

He was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in He served in the House of Representatives for the next ten years.

When Andrew Jackson was elected president in , he appointed Buchanan the U.S. ambassador to Russia. After returning to the United States, Buchanan was elected to the Senate.

In , he was named Secretary of State by President James K.

Polk.

President james buchanan fun facts for kids James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States, serving from to He was born in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, on April 23, , and grew up in a wealthy family. He attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and later studied law in Lancaster. Buchanan was admitted to the bar in and.

During his time as Secretary of State, the territory of the U.S. grew by more than one-third.

In , Buchanan was appointed the minister to Great Britain by President Franklin Pierce. He helped draft the Ostend Manifesto, which would have justified an American invasion of Cuba.

The manifesto was never acted on, but it did cause anger from Northerners who believed that Cuba would become a slave state.

After the Democrats decided not to nominate Franklin Pierce for reelection, they chose James Buchanan as the Democratic nominee.

During his campaign, Buchanan said that slavery was an issue to be decided by the states and territories.

His opponent, John Fremont, believed that the federal government should ban slavery in all states.

Buchanan won the election with 45 percent of the popular vote and electoral votes (to Fremont’s ).

Presidency

Buchanan put together a cabinet of both Southerners and Northerners, hoping to keep the peace between the states. However, many believed that he was more sympathetic to the South.

Two days after he took office, the Supreme Court handed down the Dred Scott decision.

It said that the federal government had no power to regulate slavery; this was the decision of the states and territories.

It also said that African Americans did not have the rights of U.S. citizens. Buchanan hoped the ruling would calm the slavery issue, but it only increased tensions. There were also reports that Buchanan may have influenced the Supreme Court’s decision.

Buchanan then supported the Lecompton Constitution, which would have allowed Kansas to become a slave state.

President james buchanan fun facts He was born in a log cabin in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania on April 23, Buchanan was a staunch supporter of Andrew Jackson. But, focusing on Buchanan's political affiliations won't do much to help you understand him. Discover these ten interesting facts about the life and presidency of James Buchanan in order to understand the man better.

Kansas eventually became a free state, but Buchanan’s stance was not forgotten by Northerners.

In , the Republican Congress blocked most of Buchanan’s legislation. In turn, Buchanan vetoed Republican legislation. Relations between Congress and the president became strained.

James Buchanan had stated in his inaugural address that he would only serve one term, and he honored his promise not to run for reelection.

After Abraham Lincoln had been elected president, but while Buchanan was still in office, South Carolina seceded from the Union.

Soon, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had followed suit.

Buchanan didn’t think that the states had the right to secede, but he also felt he had no constitutional power to stop them.

He left Lincoln to deal with the succession issue, slavery, and the impending Civil War.

After the Presidency

James Buchanan retired to Wheatland, his estate in central Pennsylvania.

Andrew johnson fun facts Here’s a look at some facts about our 15th president, James Buchanan. 1. HE WAS THE ONLY PRESIDENT WHO WAS A LIFELONG BACHELOR. In , year-old Buchanan, then an attorney who had already.

On April 2, , just over a month after he left office, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter and the Civil War began.

During the war, Buchanan supported Abraham Lincoln and his policies.

In , Buchanan published Mr. Buchanan’s Administration on the Eve of Rebellion, a memoir that defended his presidency.

Just before his death, he said, “History will vindicate my memory from every unjust aspersion.” He died in at age 77 and was buried at Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Fun Facts About James Buchanan

James Buchanan was nicknamed “Ten Cent Jimmy” after saying that ten cents was fair daily pay for laborers.

He was also called a “doughface,” meaning he was a Northerner who favored Southern policies.

Buchanan was once offered a seat on the Supreme Court.

When he was traveling for meetings as president-elect, Buchanan became very ill and almost died.

Buchanan is the only U.S.

president from Pennsylvania.

In the White House, Buchanan’s niece Harriet Lane performed First Lady duties and became a popular figure. She was nicknamed the “Democratic Queen.”

On his way out of the White House, Buchanan reportedly told Lincoln, “If you are as happy in entering the White House as I shall feel on returning to Wheatland, you are a happy man.”

US Presidents