During the 1856 Presidential Election , friend and fellow Pennsylvanian James Buchanan ran for the Democratic nomination against incumbent Franklin Pierce and Senator Stephen Douglas . Packer worked hard for his nomination and election . Buchanan won the nomination at the 1856 Democratic National Convention in Cincinnati , Ohio and went on to win the Presidency over Republican John C. Frémont and Know Nothing candidate and former President Millard Fillmore
1856 Democratic National Convention
1856 Democratic National Convention
William F. Packer