James Buchanan (1791-1868) was an American politician who served as the fifteenth president of the United States. He took office during a time of great crisis, when the country was divided along sectional lines over the issue of slavery; his unwelcome involvement in the Dred Scott decision and the alleged corruption of his administration only caused more division and led to his unpopularity. He did little to preserve the Union during the Secession Crisis of 1860-61, which led to the American Civil War. As such, he is often regarded as one of the worst presidents in US history.
More about: James BuchananDefinition
Timeline
-
23 Apr 1791James Buchanan is born in a one-room log cabin near Mercersville, Pennsylvania.
-
4 Nov 1856In the US presidential election of 1856, Democrat James Buchanan defeats John C. Frémont of the Republican Party and Millard Fillmore of the Know-Nothing Party.
-
2 Feb 1858President Buchanan submits the proslavery Lecompton constitution to Congress, worsening the conflict in Bleeding Kansas.
-
16 Aug 1858The first official, public transatlantic telegraph message is sent between Queen Victoria of England and US President James Buchanan. The message from Victoria congratulated Buchanan on the telegraph cable and Buchanan's later response acknowledged this.
-
Mar 1860The US House of Representatives begins investigating President Buchanan's administration for corruption, lowering trust in government in the pivotal months before the Civil War.
-
20 Dec 1860South Carolina votes to secede from the Union; Pres. Buchanan denounces secession as illegal but takes no action to stop it.
-
1 Jun 1868Former President James Buchanan dies at the age of 77.
