See Also: Buchanan, James(encyclopedia)
Buchanan, James(dictionary)
Buchanan (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Buchanan, George(encyclopedia)
Buchanan General Hospital(health)
FORT BUCHANAN Credit Union(finance)
James, Jesse and James, Frank(encyclopedia)
James II(encyclopedia)
James I(encyclopedia)
James IV(encyclopedia)

neuraminidase (iou) and Buchanan, James (sh)


neuraminidase (iou)



neuraminidase noun. M20.
[from NEURAMINIC + -IDE + -ASE.]
Biochemistry. Any of several enzymes, present esp. in many pathogenic or symbiotic micro-organisms, which catalyse the breakdown of glucosides containing neuraminic acid. Also called sialidase.

Buchanan, James (sh)




born April 23, 1791, near Mercersburg, Pa., U.S.
died June 1, 1868, near Lancaster

15th president of the U.S. (1857-61).

He was admitted to the bar in 1812 and soon established a successful law practice. He was elected to the Pennsylvania legislature in 1814 and later served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1821-31), as minister to Russia (1832-34), and in the U.S. Senate (1834-45). He was secretary of state in the cabinet of Pres. James K. Polk (1845-49). As minister to Britain (1853-56), he helped draft the Ostend Manifesto. In 1856 he was elected president as a Democrat, defeating John C. Fremont. Although experienced in government and law, he lacked the courage to deal effectively with the slavery crisis, and he equivocated on the question of Kansas's status as a slaveholding state. The ensuing split within his party allowed Abraham Lincoln to win the election of 1860. He denounced the secession of South Carolina following the election and sent reinforcements to Fort Sumter but failed to respond further to the mounting crisis. He was the only president never to have married.


James Buchanan, photograph by Mathew Brady.

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.