Strangers – Today

James Buchanan, April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868

James Buchanan was a lawyer and politician who was elected the fifteenth President of the United States, holding the position from 1857 until 1861. Buchanan started his political career as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and went on to to be elected to the United States House of Representatives and the Senate before serving as Secretary of State under James K. Polk. Buchanan also served as the United States Minister to the United Kingdom and Russia. Buchanan's presidency was marked by his inaction in the face of secession of southern states, leading to condemnation from anti-slavery northerners. His presidency is consistently ranked as one of the nation's worst by historians. Buchanan was the only president to never marry. He visited the Athenaeum multiple times over the years, with his visits coming while he was a Senator and during a period when he did not hold public office.

Portrait courtesy of Smithsonian Open Access — Source — Source

Tucker Coles, May 2, 1782 — March 4, 1861

Tucker Coles was an American politician. He came from a family of wealthy and influential southern planters and enslavers. Coles represented Albemarle County in the Virginia state legislature, and was the brother of Edward Coles, governor of Illinois, frequent Athenaeum visitor, and eventual member. He lived in a 25-room estate constructed for him by his father, called Tallwood. The Record of Strangers indicates that Coles visited the Athenaeum on multiple occasions.

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