15

James Buchanan
15th President of the United States

James Buchanan

1857–1861

Vice President:   John Breckinridge
Born: April 23, 1791, in Cove Gap (near Mercersburg), Pennsylvania
Died: June 1, 1868, at Wheatland (near Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
Career/Occupation: Lawyer
Religion: Episcopalian 
Education: Presbyterian 
Political Party: Democrat
Nickname(s): "Old Buck"


Other Government Positions:
Member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1815-16 Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1821-31 
Minister to Russia, 1832-34 
United States Senator, 1834-45 
Secretary of State, 1845-49 (under Polk) 
Minister to England, 1853-56

Presidential Salary: $25,000


Firsts: 
First president born in Pennsylvania. 
The first president to be a bachelor.
The first president to meet a member of the British Royal Family while in office.

He met the future King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, in 1860 during his tour of America).

The first president to have his inauguration photographed.