John McLean (1785-1861) was an Ohio congressman, and Supreme Court justice who served on the Court for more than thirty years. He was appointed by President Andrew Jackson and became one of the Court's most politically ambitious members, twice being considered for the presidency. His most consequential judicial contribution came through his dissent in Dred Scott v. Sandford, where he rejected the majority's denial of Black citizenship and its constitutional protection of slavery.

William R. King (1786-1853) was a North Carolina-born lawyer who moved to Alabama, became one of its first U.S. senators, served as president pro tempore, and represented the United States as minister to France. He became Franklin Pierce's vice president in March 1853 but was already suffering from tuberculosis and took the oath of office in Cuba before returning to Alabama. King died on April 18, 1853, only 45 days into his vice presidency, making his the shortest vice-presidential tenure in American history.

John Tyler (1790-1862) was the tenth president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845 after the death of William Henry Harrison. As president, he clashed with his own Whig Party over issues such as the national bank while supporting westward expansion and the annexation of Texas. After leaving office, Tyler retired to Virginia, became involved in efforts to prevent the Civil War, and ultimately supported the Confederacy before his death in 1862.

James Buchanan (1791-1868) was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. An experienced politician and diplomat, he served in the House of Representatives, Senate, as Secretary of State, and as minister to Great Britain and Russia before becoming president. His presidency was dominated by the Sectional Crisis and his failure to effectively respond to secession left him widely regarded as one of the weakest presidents in American history.

George M. Dallas (1792-1864) was a Philadelphia lawyer and Democratic politician who served as mayor, senator, diplomat, and vice president under James K. Polk. He presided over the Senate during the Mexican-American War and the major debates surrounding American territorial expansion. Dallas retired from the vice presidency in 1849, later served as minister to Great Britain, and died in Philadelphia in 1864.

James K. Polk (1795-1849) was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849 after a political career in Tennessee and Congress, where he became Speaker of the House. As president, Polk pursued an ambitious expansionist agenda, acquiring vast western territories through the settlement of the Oregon boundary and the Mexican-American War, while also reducing tariffs and restoring the independent treasury.