James Buchanan (1791-1868) was a native of Pennsylvania. He graduated from Dickinson College and became an attorney. He never married and devoted his life to the pursuit of a political career as a Democrat. Buchanan served in many high elective and appointive positions before being elected president in 1856. While in Congress earlier in his career, Buchanan had been strongly prosouthern, anxious not to offend over the slavery issue. He continued to act in that manner as president, supporting, for example, the proslavery Lecompton Constitution for Kansas, a policy that damaged him politically in the North. Timid and indecisive, Buchanan was unable to provide the leadership necessary for the country to avoid the ensuing tragedy of secession.