John Lee Buchanan

Buchanan was born to Patrick C. and Margaret Graham Buchanan in Rich Valley, Smyth County, Virginia.[1][2] He received an A.B. in 1856 and an M.A. in 1858[2] or 1860,[1] both from Emory and Henry College, where he was a member of the faculty until 1878 with the exception of the Civil War years when he served the Confederate States in the mining department.[3] In 1879 he became the Latin chair at Vanderbilt University and later served as president of Emory and Henry College before being appointed VAMC president in 1880.[2] The state legislature replaced the Board of Visitors, who in turn removed all university officials and faculty in June 1880.[4] Buchanan re-assumed the presidency of VAMC in August 1881, but was removed for the second and final time in January 1882.[4]

At this time, Buchanan began teaching at Martha Washington College in Abingdon, Virginia, later becoming president there.[2] In 1884 he served on a state committee that established the State Normal Female School in Farmville (now Longwood University).[5] From 1885 to 1889 he served as state superintendent of public instruction (hence was ex officio member of the VAMC Board of Visitors).[4] He began teaching at Randolph-Macon College in 1889, later becoming president.[5] He resigned the presidency of Randolph-Macon in 1894 to assume presidency of what was then Arkansas Industrial University[6] before he renamed it to University of Arkansas and where he remained until retiring in 1902.[1]

Buchanan died January 19, 1922, in Rich Valley, Virginia, at age 90.[2]

Two residence halls at the University of Arkansas were named after Buchanan, including the Buchanan-Droke residence hall.[1]

Buchanan married Frances Elizabeth Wiley, with whom he had nine children.[1]

• The Buchanan-Shipp-Hart-Buchanan Years (1880-1882)