He gained office thanks to the splintering of votes from Millard Fillmore on the Know Nothing ticket and John C. Fremont on the Republican ticket.  
The Covode Committee chastised him for allowing the War and Navy Departments to award no-bid contracts, and late in his term he promoted his Postmaster General, Joseph Holt, to Secretary of War.  Along with John Mason and Pierre Soule, this then ambassador of England was directed by William L. Marcy to explore the feasibility of purchasing Cuba via the Ostend Manifesto. He gained office thanks to the splintering of votes from Millard Fillmore on the Know Nothing ticket and John C. Fremont on the Republican ticket.  For 10 points, identify this bachelor president from Pennsylvania who saw seven states secede from the Union after his successor, Abraham Lincoln, was elected.
The Covode Committee chastised him for allowing the War and Navy Departments to award no-bid contracts, and late in his term he promoted his Postmaster General, Joseph Holt, to Secretary of War.  
James {Buchanan}