| BUCHANAN, JAMES, Lawyer, Statesman, and Fifteenth President
of the United States, was born near Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania,
April 23d, 1791. His father, James Buchanan, was a native of the county
of Donegal, Ireland, and one of the earliest settlers of Franklin county,
having emigrated thither in 1783. His mother, Elizabeth Speer, was the
daughter of a respectable farmer of Adams county, a woman of remarkable
native intellect, and distinguished for her masculine sense and rare literary
taste. In 1798, James Buchanan, the elder, removed to Mercersburg, where
his son received his academical education, and made such rapid progress
in his studies that his father determined to give him the benefit of a
collegiate course. He entered Dickinson College at the age of fourteen,
and during his entire term of four years outstripped all his classmates
in the acquirement of knowledge. He graduated in 1809. In December of the
same year, he commenced the study of law with James Hopkins of Lancaster,
the leading attorney at that bar. He was admitted to practice, November
17th, 1812, and at once took the front rank in the profession. When but
a lawyer of four years standing, he was selected to conduct, unaided by
senior counsel, the defence of a distinguished judge, who was impeached
before the Senate of Pennsylvania. His defence on this occasion was a masterly
display of legal acumen and forensic ability, that at once gave him a wide
reputation; and from that period business poured in upon him. So successful
was he, that when but forty years of age he had acquired means that enabled
him to retire from the profession. He early displayed his patriotism by
enlisting as a private in the company commanded by Captain Henry Shippen,
which marched from Lancaster to the defence of Baltimore during the War
with England, in 1812-’14, and with which he served till honorably
discharged. In October, 1814, he was elected a member of the lower House
of the State Legislature, and re-elected in 1815. His next step upward
was his election, in 1820, as Representative to Congress. His first elaborate
speech was made January 11th, 1822, and was deemed so important as to be
published verbatim; it at once enrolled him as one of the ablest men in
the nation, and gave him a national reputation. He was constantly re-elected
to Congress, and although originally a Federalist, he changed to the Democratic
faith and supported General Jackson for President, in 1828, being himself
re-elected to Congress during the campaign, and made Chairman of the Judiciary
Committee. On March 3d, 1831, he voluntarily retired from Congress, and
was soon afterwards appointed United States Minister to Russia by President
Jackson; in this position he concluded the first commercial treaty between
the United States and Russia, securing to our seamen important privileges
in the Baltic and Black Seas. In 1833, on his return to the United States,
he was elected United States Senator, taking his seat December 15th, 1834.
He advocated Texan independence, and its recognition by the United States,
and afterwards the admission of Texas as one of the States of the Union.
On the opening of the 24th Congress he was made Chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations. During Van Buren’s administration he advocated
the “Sub-treasury Act,” and aided the passage of the bill;
and while Tyler was President he opposed the Fiscal Bank bill, and advocated
the Independent Treasury. For four years, from March 4th, 1845, or during
the Polk administration, he was the able head of the State Department,
and then retired to private life. When Pierce succeeded Fillmore, March
4th, 1853, he was recalled from his retirement and created United States
Minister to England. On his return to the United States he was nominated
and elected to the Presidency, and inaugurated March 4th, 1857. His administration
was begun under adverse circumstances, the country laboring in the throes
of that great conflict which broke out shortly after his term expired,
and which has passed into history under the name of the Great Rebellion.
After March 4th, 1861, he retired to his residence at Wheatland, where
he died, June 1st, 1868. |
