James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791, in Cove Gap. Trained as a lawyer, he entered politics early and served in the United States House of Representatives and later the United States Senate. Buchanan also held several diplomatic roles, including serving as U.S. minister to United Kingdom and secretary of state under James K. Polk. Elected president in 1856, Buchanan struggled to ease the growing tensions between Northern and Southern states over slavery. His presidency is often associated with the events leading up to the American Civil War, including the controversial support of the Dred Scott decision. When he left office in 1861, the nation was deeply divided and on the brink of war.
