Facts About James Buchanan the 15th President

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Updated October 25, 2020

James Buchanan (1791-1868) served as America's fifteenth president. Considered by many to be America's worst president, he was the last president to serve before America entered the Civil War.

Here is a quick list of fast facts for James Buchanan. For more in depth information, you can also read the James Buchanan Biography

Birth:

April 23, 1791

Death:

June 1, 1868

Term of Office:

March 4, 1857-March 3, 1861

Number of Terms Elected:

1 Term

First Lady:

Unmarried, the only bachelor to be president. His niece Harriet Lane fulfilled the role of hostess.

James Buchanan Quote:

"What is right and what is practicable are two different things."
Additional James Buchanan Quotes

Major Events While in Office:

Pony Express (1860)
Southern States begin secession (1860)
Confederate States of America created (1861)

States Entering Union While in Office:

Minnesota (1858)
Oregon (1859)
Kansas (1860)

Related James Buchanan Resources:

These additional resources on James Buchanan can provide you with further information about the president and his times.

James Buchanan Biography
Take a more in depth look at the fifteenth president of the United States through this biography. You'll learn about his childhood, family, early career, and the major events of his administration.

Civil War: Pre-War and Secession
The Kansas-Nebraska Act gave the settlers in the newly organized territories of Kansas and Nebraska the power to decide for themselves whether or not to permit enslavement. This bill helped increase the debate over the institution of enslavement. This increasingly bitter sectionalism would result in the Civil War.

Order of Secession
Once Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860, states began to secede from the union.

Chart of Presidents and Vice Presidents
This informative chart gives quick reference information on the presidents, vice-presidents, their terms of office, and their political parties.