"James Buchanan Jr. (/bjuːˈkænən/; April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868) was an American politician who served as the 15th president of the United States (1857–1861), serving prior to the American Civil War. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the United States Secretary of State and in both houses of Congress before becoming President.
Born in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, Buchanan became a prominent lawyer and won election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Federalist. In 1820, he won election to the United States House of Representatives, aligning with Andrew Jackson´s Democratic Party. He served as Jackson´s Minister to Russia, then won election as a senator from Pennsylvania. In 1845, he accepted appointment as President James K. Polk´s Secretary of State. He was a major contender for his party´s presidential nomination throughout the 1840s and 1850s and was finally nominated in 1856, defeating incumbent President Franklin Pierce and Senator Stephen A. Douglas at the 1856 Democratic National Convention. Buchanan and running mate John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky defeated Republican John C. Frémont and Know-Nothing Millard Fillmore to win the 1856 election." - (en.wikipedia.org 09.11.2019)
