This engraving of President James Buchanan was produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Prior to his presidency, Buchanan served in the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, was secretary of state under presidents James K. Polk and John Taylor, and served as an ambassador. He was president from March 4, 1857 until March 4, 1861.

This illustration is of a reception held in honor of Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales and future king of the United Kingdom, in the East Room of the White House on October 4, 1860. The reception was hosted by President James Buchanan, likely the man standing to the Prince's right. The future King Edward VII was 18 years old at the time of this trip and toured the Capitol and various government buildings, as well as Mount Vernon.

This illustration depicts President James Buchanan meeting with the Japanese diplomatic delegation in 1860. This was the first visit of Japanese representatives to the United States. The May 17, 1860 meeting, one of several between the Japanese delegation and the President, took place in the East Room of the White House and was attended by members of the military, government, and clergy among other guests.

This wood engraving depicts President James Buchanan and Harriet Lane, his niece who served as White House hostess, inspecting gifts given to the United States by the Japanese delegation in the spring of 1860. This was the first visit to the United States by Japanese diplomats. The visit was a response to the 1852-1854 expedition to Japan by Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry that resulted in an open trade treaty between the two nations. Some of the gifts visible in the engraving are katanas, saddles, and fabric. The caption at the bottom of the image is in German.

This illustration was published on March 13, 1858 in "Harper's Weekly." The illustration depicts a reception in the East Room of the White House during the James Buchanan administration. Hosting dinners and receptions at the White House became a regular practice for the president in the mid-19th century.

This 2011 oil on canvas painting by Peter Waddell depicts President James Buchanan with his niece, and White House hostess, Harriet Lane greeting three Japanese visitors to the White House. The Japanese diplomats arrived in the United States in the spring of 1860. The visit was a response to the 1852-1854 expedition to Japan by Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry that resulted in an open trade treaty between the two nations. ***Interior use only for publications***

This engraving by John Chester Buttre is of President James Buchanan. This image was influenced from a daguerreotype by Mathew Brady. Buttre completed the engraving in the mid-19th century. Before being elected as the fifteenth president of the United States, Buchanan served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and Senate for the state of Pennsylvania, secretary of state, and the United States minister to Russia and Great Britain.

This is an engraving depicting President James Buchanan receiving the Japanese envoy on May 17, 1860. The envoys visited the Unites States to ratify the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which opened up trade between the United States and Japan.

This oil on canvas painting of President James Buchanan was done by William Merritt Chase after an earlier engraving by another artist. Prior to his presidency, Buchanan had served in the House of Representatives and the Senate, was Secretary of State under Presidents Polk and Taylor and served as an ambassador. He was president from March 4, 1857 until March 4, 1861.

This oil on canvas painting of President James Buchanan was done by John Henry Brown. Prior to his presidency, Buchanan had served in the House of Representatives and the Senate, was Secretary of State under Presidents Polk and Taylor and served as an ambassador. He was president from March 4, 1857 until March 4, 1861.

This hand-colored wood engraving by an unknown artist was made around 1860 and depicts the banquet hosted by President James Buchanan for Japanese envoys during their visit to Washington, D.C. and their first trip to the United States. The banquet was held on May 24, 1860 and this engraving from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper shows the delegation having dinner in the State Dining Room in the Executive Mansion. President Buchanan is seated at the center of the table.

This 1860 wood engraving depicts President James Buchanan's reception for the Japanese delegation in the East Room. The visit was a response to the 1852-1854 expedition to Japan by Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry that resulted in an open trade treaty between the two nations.