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 immediately prior to the American Civil War. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 17th United States Secretary of State and had served in the Senate and House of Representatives before becoming president.
