Wow, I typed an unique for an! essay and then Word grammar check said it was wrong. But I always thought that the rule was: an = when a word starts with a,e,i,o,u. But then I figured, yeah it does sound strange.
Buchanan was nominated by the Democratic Party in the 1856 presidential election. Throughout most of Pierce's term, he had been stationed in London as a minister to the Court of St. James's, so was not caught up in the crossfire of sectional politics that dominated the country.
Buchanan emerged as a leading opponent of the policies of John Quincy Adams. He was an active supporter of Jackson's presidential campaign. From 1829-31, Buchanan was chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. In 1830, Buchanan declined to run for re-election, preferring to return to his law practice.