15th President of the United States

James Buchanan

“Old Buck”

In office

March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861

Party

Democratic

Home state

Pennsylvania

Lived

1791–1868

Days in office

1,461

In order

No. 15: after Franklin Pierce, before Abraham Lincoln

Vice president

John C. Breckinridge

Key achievements & events

• Backed the Dred Scott decision (1857) and the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution for Kansas
• Faced the Panic of 1857
• Watched seven Southern states secede without taking action to stop them

Remember: The only president who never married. Historians regularly rank him among the least effective presidents.