James Buchanan

1791 – 1868

James Buchanan Jr. was the 15th president of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861, and is widely ranked among the worst presidents in American history. He took office shortly before the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision, which he had privately encouraged, and spent his presidency siding with Southern slaveholders' interests as the country slid toward civil war. By the time he left office, seven Southern states had already seceded from the Union, and his refusal to confront the secessionist movement left the new Lincoln administration to face the unfolding crisis alone.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM