Trivia

He was the only president to remain a lifelong bachelor, and one of only two bachelors elected president, along with Grover Cleveland.

Has been frequently considered by historians to be the worst U.S. president and has generally been held partially responsible for the United States descending into the Civil War due to his inaction and poor decision making.

He was the 15th president of the United States, in office from 1857 to 1861.

Served as Secretary of State under President James K. Polk.

Was the second of eleven children in his family, it's tied with Thomas Jefferson for being the second-largest immediate family of a president after James Madison (who was one of twelve). Oddly, in spite of this, Buchanan (since he never married) is one of only three presidents to never have any children.

He was near-sighted in one eye and long-sighted in the other and one sat higher in the socket than the other. Whenever he had to focus on something, he'd have to tilt his head and shut the appropriate eye.

He was the first U.S. president to be born in Pennsylvania.

Andrew Jackson gave him the position of Minister to Russia in an attempt to keep him out of the country, where he would, in Jackson's words, "do the least harm. I would have sent him to the North Pole if we had kept a minister there.".

In his cabinet, he had the shortest-served Postmaster General (Horatio King) and the shortest-served Attorney General (Edwin Stanton).

He was almost thirty years older than his vice president, John C. Breckinridge. For nearly 170 years it was the biggest age gap between a U.S. president and vice president. It got surpassed in 2024, when the Donald Trump-JD Vance ticket (whom are 38 years apart in age) won the U.S. election.

Was 50 days shy of his 70th birthday at the time he left office on March 4, 1861. He remained the oldest person to serve as president until Dwight D. Eisenhower surpassed him in 1960. Oddly, Buchanan's Secretary of State, Lewis Cass (who was 78 when he resigned in 1860) was one of the oldest people to hold a cabinet position.

He was 22 years-older than his presidential opponent, John C. Fremont. Of the candidates who have won a presidential election, which is the largest age gap where the older candidate won.

He was the final U.S. president to have been born in the 18th century.

Is the third and thus far most recent U.S. president to have no children of his own.