James Buchanan

1791-04-23 - 1868-06-01 Contemporaries

James Buchanan was the 15th president of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. During his final months in office, seven Southern states seceded and formed the Confederacy, and the Civil War began shortly after he left office. He was previously the 17th U.S. Secretary of State under James K. Polk and Minister to Britain under Franklin Pierce, and he represented Pennsylvania in the House and Senate.