Lived

April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868

Home State

Pennsylvania

Party

Democratic

Vice President

John C. Breckinridge

James Buchanan was the only bachelor President and the last president before the Civil War. A veteran diplomat and Secretary of State, he privately urged the Supreme Court toward the pro-slavery result in Dred Scott and then denied that either secession was legal or that the federal government could prevent it. By his inauguration day seven Southern states had seceded. His paralysis in the face of disunion left the crisis to Abraham Lincoln, and Buchanan is consistently ranked among the least effective presidents. Pennsylvania lawyer, U.S. Representative and Senator, Minister to Russia and Great Britain, Polk's Secretary of State.

Dickinson College, 1809.

Few. The Pony Express and the completion of the transatlantic cable occurred during his term. No major domestic legislation of lasting national significance.

Privately urged Chief Justice Taney and Justice Grier toward the pro-slavery result in Dred Scott before the ruling was announced. Denied that secession was legal, then denied that the federal government had the power to prevent it. By his inauguration day, seven states had seceded and formed the Confederacy.