James Buchanan

 NAME James Buchanan

WHAT FAMOUS FOR James Buchanan is famous for being the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. He is often remembered for his inability to prevent the country from sliding into the Civil War.

BIRTH James Buchanan was born in a log cabin on April 23, 1791, in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND James Buchanan was the son of James Buchanan Sr., a well-to-do merchant and farmer, and Elizabeth Speer Buchanan. His family was of Ulster Scots descent.

CHILDHOOD James Buchanan grew up in a large family with ten siblings. His early life was spent in the rural setting of Pennsylvania, where he helped with his father's business.

EDUCATION James Buchanan attended the Old Stone Academy before enrolling at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1809, despite being briefly expelled for misbehavior.

CAREER RECORD James Buchanan started his career as a lawyer before entering politics. Here's his resume:

Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1814-1816)

U.S. House of Representatives (1821-1831)

U.S. Minister to Russia (1832-1833)

U.S. Senate (1834-1845)

U.S. Secretary of State (1845-1849)

U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1853-1856)

President of the United States (1857-1861)

APPEARANCE James Buchanan was known for his tall, dignified appearance, with a high forehead, prominent nose and greying hair. He had a slightly stooped posture, often tilting his head to one side.. Buchanan  often appeared stern and serious.

James Buchanan (1859) by George Healy 

FASHION Buchanan adhered to the fashion norms of his time, typically wearing dark suits, white high-collared shirts and cravats.

CHARACTER Buchanan was seen as diligent, disciplined, highly intelligent and politically astute but also indecisive and overly cautious. He was often criticized for his inability to take strong stances on critical issues.

SENSE OF HUMOUR James Buchanan had a reputation for being rather serious and did not exhibit a notable sense of humor.

RELATIONSHIPS Buchanan never married. He was engaged to Anne Coleman, the daughter of the wealthy iron manufacturer but the engagement was broken off  in 1819, after a fight between the pair- she accused him of only being interested in her money. Anne Colman died later that year, on December 9, 1819, in what some have said was a suicide. 

Biographers like to say Buchanan was asexual, but some writers have a different theory.  They claim Buchanan was chummy with a fellow named William Rufus King – so chummy that even Andrew Jackson, a man known for his frontier decorum, felt the need to crack wise about their "special friendship." 

Buchanan remained a lifelong bachelor, the only president to be single throughout his tenure.

He maintained close ties with his family, particularly his niece, Harriet Lane. After his election, Lane came to live in the White House and took on the role of First Lady.

Buchanan was one heck of a host.  When the Prince of Wales waltzed in with his entourage in the fall of 1860, the White House was apparently so packed the president himself had to sleep in the hallway.  

MONEY AND FAME Buchanan came from a well-off family and as a successful lawyer and politician he accumulated a significant fortune. He enjoyed the prestige that came with high office.

His fame primarily rests on his role as President during the tumultuous pre-Civil War period.

Buchanan's nickname, "Ten-Cent Jimmy," wasn't exactly a badge of honor. He was given the moniker after he claimed that 10¢ a day was a fair wage for manual laborers.

FOOD AND DRINK Buchanan enjoyed fine dining and was known for hosting lavish parties with a variety of food and drink, including his favorite Madeira wine.

MUSIC AND ARTS Buchanan appreciated music and the arts, often attending cultural events and supporting the arts during his presidency.

LITERATURE James Buchanan was well-read, with a particular interest in history and political theory. He maintained a large personal library.

NATURE Buchanan enjoyed the outdoors and often spent time on his Wheatland estate in Pennsylvania, engaging in activities like horseback riding.

PETS Buchanan had several pets during his life, including both the largest and the smallest dogs to live in the White House. The pooches in question were a Newfoundland named Lara and a tiny toy terrier named Punch.

A friend who lived in San Francisco gave Buchanan a pair of golden eagles. The eagles were unsuited to life in the White House so Buchanan sent them to his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

HOBBIES AND SPORTS His hobbies included horseback riding and playing chess. He was known to enjoy social gatherings and political discussions.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Buchanan had a basic understanding of science and mathematics but did not exhibit a strong inclination towards these fields.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Buchanan was a Presbyterian and held traditional Christian beliefs. As a politician, he was a staunch Democrat who believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution, states' rights and national unity.

Buchanan claimed to be morally opposed to slavery, yet somehow believed the Constitution was best friends with the whole awful practice.  So, in a move that would leave any logician scratching their head, Buchanan continued to buy slaves, then promptly set them free.

POLITICS James Buchanan, a proud Democrat and owner of more hats than a Kentucky Derby milliner, wasn't exactly a political newcomer when he waltzed into the Oval Office. He'd already spent years bouncing between the House and Senate chambers, even serving as the nation's 17th secretary of state – a post that basically involved convincing everyone America wasn't plotting to steal all their shiny stuff.

Buchanan wasn't shy about his ambitions, either. He buzzed around like a particularly persistent gnat, vying for the Democratic nomination throughout the 40s and 50s. Finally, in 1856, they threw him a bone, and Buchanan found himself facing off against a gaggle of other contenders, including a Republican named John C. Frémont who, let's just say, wasn't exactly known for his diplomatic skills. Buchanan ended up winning, which probably surprised everyone most of all, especially Buchanan himself.

As President, Buchanan wasn't exactly a picture of decisive leadership. He bungled the Dred Scott case and then proceeded to appease the South by letting them shove the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution down Kansas' throat like a spoonful of castor oil. This, unsurprisingly, didn't go over well with the North, and pretty soon, the whole country was about as divided as a room full of toddlers arguing over the last cookie.

Buchanan tried to play peacemaker. He proposed the Corwin Amendment, which basically amounted to waving a giant white flag and hoping nobody noticed the cracks in the national foundation. He even attempted to reinforce a crucial fort in the South, but somehow managed to bungle that too. By the time the Civil War reared its ugly head, Buchanan had managed to anger everyone and achieve precisely zero in the way of preventing it.

The rest of his days were spent grumbling about his unfair portrayal in history books, while historians, ever the cheerful bunch, ranked him among the worst presidents ever. So, there you have it – the story of James Buchanan, a man who, if nothing else, proved that ambition isn't always the best qualification for the top job.

SCANDAL Buchanan's presidency was marred by several scandals, most notably his perceived favoritism towards Southern interests and his failure to address the secession crisis effectively.

MILITARY RECORD Although James Buchanan did not formally serve in the militia during the War of 1812, during the British occupation he joined a group of young men who stole horses for the United States Army in the Baltimore area.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Buchanan's health was generally robust, although he suffered from intermittent ailments. He remained active and engaged throughout his life.

Buchanan suffered from a condition called esotropia, which basically meant his eyes had a mind of their own and liked to gaze inwards like a pair of crossed wires. To top it all off, one eye was nearsighted while the other was farsighted – a recipe for perpetual squinting and general visual confusion.  No wonder the man looked uncomfortable in crowds!

In a desperate attempt to appear less like a startled owl, Buchanan developed a peculiar habit.  He'd hunch forward and tilt his head to one side, like a man trying to solve a particularly tricky crossword puzzle.  This, of course, backfired spectacularly.  His political rivals, particularly the ever-charming Henry Clay, had a field day with it.  

HOMES Buchanan's most significant residence was Wheatland, a Georgian-style mansion near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He inherited the estate from his father and lived there for most of his life. Wheatland served as a center for entertaining political figures and dignitaries during his career.

TRAVEL Buchanan traveled extensively for his political career, including international assignments as a diplomat in Russia and the United Kingdom.

DEATH Buchanan retired to Wheatland after his presidency. He died there on June 1, 1868, at the age of 77. The cause of death is attributed to complications from rheumatism and gout.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA James Buchanan hasn't garnered the same level of popular attention as other presidents. However, he has been portrayed in various films and television shows, including depictions in documentaries about the Civil War era and fictionalized historical dramas.

ACHIEVEMENTS Despite his controversial presidency, Buchanan's achievements include his extensive diplomatic service and his role in the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. However, his legacy is largely overshadowed by his failure to prevent the Civil War.

Source Presidential Pet Museum