Gretna, Virginia · Serving Pittsylvania County

Gretna time
Gretna JunctionGRETNA LIVES HERE.
73°FMostly ClearLocal notices
THE LATEST
Hawks football: September results and the road to Halifax CountyGretna's Vivian Taylor turns a summer internship into research experienceTony Womack’s Gretna story has more than one way to measure a careerFinding the right Virginia court record from Pittsylvania CountyA listing, a parcel map and a tax assessment answer different questions

PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY

James Buchanan

1857–1861

Portrait of James Buchanan
Mathew Brady / Library of Congress · Public domain

PRESIDENCY 15 · SOURCE CHECK 2026-09-19

A starting point in the record.

James Buchanan held diplomatic posts, served in the House and Senate, and became secretary of state before entering the presidency. His administration faced escalating conflict over slavery, the status of Kansas, and the secession of southern states after the 1860 election. Buchanan opposed secession but disputed the federal government's authority to stop it by force. He completed his presidential term in March 1861, shortly before the Civil War began.

Presidency 15
to
Read the official biography ↗All presidents

Official biographies are institutional accounts. The reporting below uses specific records and preserves their dates.

Understand the office.

Source and editorial review recorded

This publication snapshot records a source, context, rights and presentation review bound to this exact revision. Native revocations and later changes require a new readback before the next publication. It does not rate a public official or policy. Image metadata review does not verify pixels, playback or later changes at an external source.

Reviewed .

Receipt: 80361a83-5a69-4eab-87f1-9df8b16b6683

Sources and corrections standard →