Read
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to a letter from President Buchanan
Portrait Gallery
Did You Know?
• He was the only president never to be married.
• During his term, the John Brown raid occurred on Harper's Ferry.
• During his term, the Lincoln-Douglas debates were being held in Illinois.
• During his term, the Confederate States of America declared their independence.
More...
Key Events in the Administration
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James Buchanan
(April 23, 1791 - June 1, 1868)
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Life Facts
Personal:
• First Lady: Harriet Lane, Niece
• Wife's Maiden Name: None None
• Number of Children: None
• Education Level: College
• School Attended: Dickinson College
• Religion: Presbyterian
• Profession: Military, Lawyer
• Military Service: No official rank
Public Service:
• Dates of Presidency: 3/4/1857 - 3/3/1861
• Presidency Number: 15
• Number of Terms: 1
• Why Presidency Ended: Not nominated
• Party: Democratic
• His Vice President(s): John C. Breckinridge
• Cabinet Service: Secretary of State (James K. Polk, 1845-1849)
• Senator: Pennsylvania (1834-1845)
• House of Representatives: Pennsylvania (1821-1831)
• State Legislative Service: PA (1814-1815)
• Other Offices: Minister to Russia; Minister to Great Britain
Footnotes
Methodology and Resources
Presidential Places
Birthplace:
Buchanan Historic Site
Gravesite: Woodward Hill Cemetery
Other Sites: Wheatland
Reference Material
Bibliography
Inaugural Address
Related Links
C-SPAN in the Classroom
Papers: PA, Philadelphia, 215-732-6200
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Watch American Presidents Programs from
C-SPAN's Archives
• LIVE from Wheatland - Lancaster, PA. Guests include: Karl Reisner-History Teacher, Mercersberg Academy & Board Member of the Mercersberg Historical Society; Richard Keller-Professor Emeritus, Millersville University; Steve Trapnell-Tour Coordinator, Wheatland; and Kathy Bratton-Executive Director, Wheatland Watch | Order Videotape
• Programming on James Buchanan.
• Re-air of LIVE from Wheatland, James Buchanan’s Home Watch;
• Tour of Mercersburg, Pa: James Buchanan’s Childhood Home, with Historian Karl Reisner Watch;
• Political Climate During The Buchanan Administration, with Howard University History Professor Edna Medford Watch;
• Buchanan’s Career as Senator and Secretary of State, with Senate Historian Don Ritchie Watch;
• 11:00 ET Buchanan’s Life and His Influence on American Foreign Policy, with Historians Micheal Birkner & Fred Binder Watch;
• Reenactment of Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” Speech Watch;
•12:25 ET Presidential Photography in the 19th Century, with Mary Panzer of The National Portrait Gallery Watch
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