1791 – 1868

James Buchanan

president of the United States from 1857 to 1861

statespersondiplomatambassadorpoliticianlawyer

Born

1791-04-23, Stony Batter

Died

1868-06-01

Birthplace state

Pennsylvania

Biography

James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791, in Stony Batter, Pennsylvania. He worked as a lawyer, diplomat, and politician, serving in both houses of Congress representing Pennsylvania, as United States secretary of state from 1845 to 1849, and as the 15th president of the United States from 1857 to 1861. He advocated for states' rights, particularly regarding slavery, and argued for limiting the role of the federal government in the period before the American Civil War. He died on June 1, 1868.

Occupation

James Buchanan is recorded as a statesperson, a diplomat, a ambassador, a politician and a lawyer, born in Pennsylvania (1791–1868).

Connections to Pennsylvania

James Buchanan was born in Stony Batter, Pennsylvania in 1791. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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James Buchanan came from Stony Batter. A full Aubrey report on Stony Batter pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Other historical figures born in Pennsylvania, ranked by historical prominence.

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Frequently asked about James Buchanan

Who was James Buchanan?

James Buchanan was president of the United States from 1857 to 1861, born in Pennsylvania (1791 – 1868).

When and where was James Buchanan born?

James Buchanan was born on 1791-04-23 in Stony Batter.

When did James Buchanan die?

James died on 1868-06-01.

What was James Buchanan known for?

James Buchanan is recorded as a statesperson, a diplomat, a ambassador, a politician and a lawyer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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