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James was born near Mercersburg, Pennsylvania to parents of Scotch-Irish descent
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He attended Mercersburg Academy until the fall of 1807, when he entered the junior class of Dickinson College
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James studied under a Lancaster lawyer, James Hopkins, and was soon admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar
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He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1814 and again in 1815 as a Federalist
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Buchanan became engaged to Ann Caroline Coleman, however it was rumored he only engaged her to inherit her fathers wealth. Ann heard of the rumor, broke off the engagement, and died a few days later.
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Buchanan was "Pennsylvania's Favorite Candidate"
for the presidency, however James K. Polk won the Democratic nomination and James became Secretary of State -
Another attempt for the Democratic position was lost to Franklin Pierce this time Buchanan became the Minister to Great Britain
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James wins in the electoral College against his Republican competitor, John Fremont. He was the 15th President of the United States.
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Buchanan was unable to prevent South Carolina from seceding from the Union
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His term ended and he did not run again
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After Buchanan left office, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter beginning the war Buchanan avoided
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He died in Lancaster, PA and can be considered the worst president the U.S. has had
