James Buchanan (1791-1868)

15th President of the United States (1857-1861); died unmarried

Associated Houses

Wheatland

Lancaster Township

The White House

Washington D.C.

He was preceded in the Presidency by Franklin Pierce and after serving one term in office for the Democrats he was succeeded in 1861 by Abraham Lincoln. His Vice-President throughout was John C. Breckinridge. He is only the second President to have been elected from Pennsylvania and the only President never to have married. His niece, Harriet Lane, acted as his Ambassador's wife while he was Minister to the Court of St. James in London and as his First Lady in Washington D.C. His nephew and secretary, James Buchanan Henry, lived with him at Wheatland. Another niece, Lois, married Alexander Johnston Cassatt, projector and President of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Contributed by Mark Meredith on 30/08/2022 and last updated on 28/12/2023.