
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.
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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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