James Buchanan (politician)
born 1791 in the US
died 1868
James Buchanan is remembered by most as the worst president the US ever had. He was the 15th president and the only one from Pennsylvania. Prior to his presidency he represented Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives and the Senate, served as Minister to Russia under president Andrew Jackson and became secretary of state under president James K Polk.
As president he was a Northerner with sympathies for the South which also meant that he did not manage to create a common ground between those in favour of slavery and those against it. A historian once claimed that Buchanan could have been a renowned president similar to George Washington but due to his own lack of decisiveness he became better known as the worst president of the US.
Buchanan was engaged to the daughter of a wealthy business man. It was said, however, that his only interest in her was the money she would bring into the marriage. He did not marry her in the end and officially remained a bachelor all his life. It was noted, however, that Buchanan had a very close relationship to William Rufus King who served as vice president under Franklin Pierce. The two of them had lived together for some time and in letters Buchanan spoke about “the affection of a special friendship.” Andrew Jackson referred to Buchanan and King as “Miss Nancy” and “Aunt Fancy” while others noted “something unhealthy in the presidents attitude.”
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan#Personal_life)
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