James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, is remembered as a central figure during one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
Born in 1791 in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, Buchanan’s life was marked by early success as a lawyer, diplomat, and politician. He served in various roles, including Congressman, Senator, Secretary of State, and Minister to both Russia and the United Kingdom.
However, his presidency from 1857 to 1861 is often viewed critically due to his failure to address the growing sectional crisis between the North and South.
His indecision in the face of Southern secession and his controversial support for the Dred Scott decision contributed to the nation’s descent into civil war.
This timeline traces Buchanan’s life from his early years and political ascent to his post-presidency efforts to defend his legacy.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1791 (April 23) | James Buchanan is born in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, to James Buchanan Sr., a merchant, and Elizabeth Speer Buchanan. |
| 1807 | Enters Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Known for his mischievous behavior but graduates with honors. |
| 1812 | Admitted to the Pennsylvania bar after studying law under James Hopkins in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. |
| 1814 | Elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Federalist. |
| 1819 | Suffers personal heartbreak when his fiancée, Anne Coleman, dies suddenly after a break in their engagement. Buchanan never marries and remains the only bachelor president. |
| 1820 | Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Buchanan initially serves as a moderate Federalist but later aligns with Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. |
| 1829 | Becomes a Democrat following the collapse of the Federalist Party and Jackson’s rise to power. |
| 1831-1833 | Appointed U.S. Minister to Russia by President Andrew Jackson. Negotiates the first U.S. commercial treaty with Russia. |
| 1834 | Elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat, representing Pennsylvania. Becomes a strong supporter of states’ rights, though he opposes nullification. |
| 1844 | Supports James K. Polk for president and backs expansionist policies, including the annexation of Texas. |
| 1845-1849 | Appointed Secretary of State under President Polk. Oversees key events such as the acquisition of Oregon and the Mexican-American War. |
| 1853-1856 | Serves as U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom under President Franklin Pierce. While in London, Buchanan plays a role in drafting the controversial Ostend Manifesto, which proposes the annexation of Cuba (widely condemned by Northern abolitionists). |
| 1856 | Nominated as the Democratic candidate for president at the Democratic National Convention. His campaign benefits from his neutrality on the Kansas-Nebraska Act and his diplomatic experience abroad. |
| 1857 (March 4) | Inaugurated as the 15th President of the United States. His inaugural address focuses on unity and downplays sectional tensions. |
| 1857 | Buchanan supports the controversial Supreme Court decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford, which rules that African Americans are not U.S. citizens and Congress cannot ban slavery in territories. This decision deepens North-South tensions. |
| 1857 | Crisis in Kansas escalates as pro- and anti-slavery factions battle over the legitimacy of the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution. Buchanan supports its acceptance into the Union, alienating Northern Democrats like Stephen Douglas. |
| 1858 | The Panic of 1857 triggers a financial crisis and recession. Buchanan is criticized for his inadequate response. |
| 1859 | Abolitionist John Brown leads a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry in an attempt to spark a slave uprising. Buchanan sends federal troops to capture Brown, who is later executed. |
| 1860 | The Democratic Party splits over the issue of slavery, resulting in Northern Democrats supporting Stephen Douglas and Southern Democrats backing John C. Breckinridge. Buchanan is unable to reconcile the factions. |
| 1860 (November) | Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, is elected president. Buchanan’s lame-duck period sees seven Southern states secede from the Union, starting with South Carolina in December. |
| 1861 (January) | Buchanan refuses to use force to stop secession but also claims that secession is illegal. His indecisive stance worsens the crisis. |
| 1861 (March 4) | Buchanan leaves office, handing over the presidency to Abraham Lincoln amid the looming threat of civil war. |
| 1861 | Retires to his Wheatland estate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Buchanan is deeply unpopular, especially in the North, for his perceived failure to address secession. |
| 1866 | Publishes Mr. Buchanan’s Administration on the Eve of the Rebellion, defending his presidency and shifting blame for the Civil War onto abolitionists and the Republican Party. |
| 1868 (June 1) | Buchanan dies at age 77 at his estate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is buried at Woodward Hill Cemetery. |
Timeline of James Buchanan
1791 (April 23) – Birth of James Buchanan
James Buchanan was born in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, to James Buchanan Sr., a successful merchant, and Elizabeth Speer Buchanan. His family, of Irish and Scottish descent, worked their way into prosperity through hard work in the trading business.
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Buchanan grew up in a rural, self-sufficient environment that would shape his personality and views on responsibility and self-reliance.
1807 – Enrollment at Dickinson College
At just 16 years old, Buchanan enrolled at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Although he initially had difficulties due to mischievous behavior, he was given a second chance after a near-expulsion.
He turned his performance around and graduated with honors, an experience that instilled a sense of discipline and commitment to learning that stayed with him for life.
1812 – Becomes a Lawyer
After studying law under prominent attorney James Hopkins in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Buchanan was admitted to the bar. His legal practice quickly grew, and he gained a reputation as a skilled and effective lawyer. His success in the legal field set the stage for his political career, as many of his early supporters came from legal and business circles.
1814 – Enters Politics
Buchanan’s political career began when he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Federalist. As a young legislator, he focused on issues related to infrastructure and economic development, such as supporting the construction of canals and roads. His early involvement in state politics gave him valuable experience navigating legislative processes and alliances.
1819 – Death of Anne Coleman
Buchanan’s engagement to Anne Coleman, the daughter of a wealthy Pennsylvania iron manufacturer, ended in tragedy.
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The engagement was broken off for reasons that remain unclear, and shortly afterward, Coleman died under mysterious circumstances, possibly due to suicide. Buchanan was devastated by her death and vowed never to marry, a decision that would lead to his lifelong bachelorhood.
1820 – Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Buchanan was elected to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives. Initially a member of the Federalist Party, he aligned himself with moderate positions on issues such as the national bank and tariffs. His early years in Congress were marked by efforts to support national infrastructure improvements and economic stability.
1829 – Shift to the Democratic Party
As the Federalist Party dissolved, Buchanan became a prominent member of the Democratic Party, aligning himself with the principles of Andrew Jackson. His support for Jackson’s presidency and policies, including states’ rights and opposition to centralized banking, solidified his position within the Democratic ranks.
1831-1833 – U.S. Minister to Russia
President Andrew Jackson appointed Buchanan as U.S. Minister to Russia, marking the beginning of his distinguished diplomatic career. During his time in St. Petersburg, Buchanan successfully negotiated a commercial treaty that opened trade between the two nations. This achievement elevated his national profile and set him on a path to greater political opportunities.
1834 – Election to the U.S. Senate
Buchanan was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Pennsylvania as a Democratic leader. His tenure in the Senate was characterized by support for states’ rights, internal improvements, and territorial expansion. He often sought to balance sectional interests, a skill that became increasingly difficult as tensions over slavery grew.
1844 – Support for Expansion and James K. Polk
Buchanan played a critical role in supporting the presidential campaign of James K. Polk, an expansionist Democrat. He advocated for territorial expansion, including the annexation of Texas and the pursuit of Oregon. Buchanan believed that expanding U.S. territory was essential for the nation’s growth and prosperity.
1845-1849 – Secretary of State under President Polk
As Secretary of State under James K. Polk, Buchanan oversaw significant events in U.S. foreign policy. He played a key role in the negotiation of the Oregon Treaty, which resolved a long-standing boundary dispute with Britain. He also supported the Mexican-American War, which resulted in the acquisition of California and much of the Southwest through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
1853-1856 – U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom
Buchanan served as U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom during Franklin Pierce’s presidency. While in London, he worked to strengthen Anglo-American relations but became entangled in the controversial Ostend Manifesto. The document, which called for the annexation of Cuba, was seen as a pro-slavery plot and damaged his reputation among Northern politicians.
1856 – Nominated as the Democratic Presidential Candidate
Buchanan was chosen as the Democratic nominee for president, largely due to his long absence from domestic controversies while serving abroad. His lack of direct involvement in the Kansas-Nebraska Act and other divisive issues helped him present himself as a unifying candidate capable of bridging sectional divides.
1857 (March 4) – Inaugurated as the 15th President of the United States
Buchanan was inaugurated as president during a time of growing sectional tensions between the North and South. In his inaugural address, he expressed hope that the issue of slavery in the territories would be settled by the Supreme Court, underestimating the depth of the national crisis.
1857 – Supports the Dred Scott Decision
Buchanan supported the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford, which declared that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories. His endorsement of the decision inflamed tensions in the North, where many saw it as a pro-slavery move that threatened the expansion of free states.
1857 – Crisis in Kansas and the Lecompton Constitution
In Kansas, pro- and anti-slavery forces clashed over the proposed Lecompton Constitution, which sought to admit Kansas as a slave state. Buchanan supported the pro-slavery constitution despite significant opposition from Northern Democrats. His stance alienated many in the North, including Stephen Douglas, and deepened the sectional divide within the Democratic Party.
1858 – The Panic of 1857
The Panic of 1857 caused a major financial downturn in the United States, resulting in widespread unemployment and bank failures. Buchanan’s response was largely seen as inadequate, as he believed that the federal government should not interfere in the crisis. His inaction further eroded public confidence in his administration.
1859 – John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to spark a slave uprising. Buchanan sent federal troops to suppress the raid, resulting in Brown’s capture and eventual execution. The raid intensified fears of Northern aggression in the South and added to the country’s growing tensions.
1860 – Democratic Party Split
The Democratic Party split into Northern and Southern factions due to disagreements over slavery. Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas, while Southern Democrats supported John C. Breckinridge. Buchanan was unable to bridge the divide within his party, which contributed to the election of Republican Abraham Lincoln.
1860 (November) – Election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln’s election as president marked a turning point for the nation. Buchanan, now a lame-duck president, watched as Southern states, beginning with South Carolina, declared their secession from the Union. His refusal to take decisive action during this period further tarnished his legacy.
1861 (January) – Secession Crisis Escalates
During Buchanan’s final months in office, seven Southern states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. Buchanan maintained that secession was illegal but believed that the federal government had no authority to coerce states into remaining in the Union. His indecisiveness left the problem for Lincoln to solve.
1861 (March 4) – Leaves Office
Buchanan left the White House and returned to his estate, Wheatland, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As he handed over the presidency to Abraham Lincoln, the country was on the brink of civil war. His failure to address the secession crisis effectively would lead to his reputation as one of the least successful U.S. presidents.
1866 – Publishes Defense of His Presidency
Buchanan published Mr. Buchanan’s Administration on the Eve of the Rebellion, a book defending his actions and blaming the Republicans and Northern abolitionists for the outbreak of the Civil War. The book did little to restore his reputation, as many viewed it as an attempt to shift blame.
1868 (June 1) – Death of James Buchanan
James Buchanan died at his home in Wheatland at the age of 77. He was buried at Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Although he had hoped history would vindicate him, his legacy as a president who failed to prevent the Civil War has largely remained negative.