James Buchanan
1791 – 1868 American 15th President of the United States
Fifteenth U.S. president who failed to stop secession.
- Religion
- Presbyterian
- Affiliations
- Democratic Party; a documented Freemason (Lodge No. 43, Lancaster, Pennsylvania).
Buchanan's term ended with the collapse of the Union as Southern states began to secede after Lincoln's 1860 election. He supported the Dred Scott decision and did little to prevent the crisis. He is widely ranked among the least effective presidents.