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On August 24, 1814, British troops captured the United States capital, Washington, D.C., and burned the Capitol building and the presidential residence, more commonly known as the White House.
This is the only time the armies of a foreign power have occupied the American capital.
It's the story of an event that most Brits have barely heard of, and if they have, it's just the title we like to tease our American friends with.
Why did the Washington fire happen?
What happened in the Washington fire?
What happened after the Washington DC fire
This is the story of the British burning of Washington in August 1814.
The Fire of Washington occurred during a war that broke out between Britain and the United States in 1812 and lasted until 1815.
Although in August 1814 the war was still brewing, it was confusingly referred to as the War of 1812.
The causes of the war were described in my recent video which gave a summary of the entire war.
Suffice it to say that this North American conflict was a consequence of the Napoleonic War between Great Britain and France.
In 1814, Napoleon's defeat suddenly freed the Royal Navy and experienced British troops to be sent across the Atlantic and wage war against the Americans.
As the Governor of Canada prepared to invade New York State, a diversionary campaign was waged by the British in the Chesapeake Bay region. It was this Chesapeake campaign that would lead to the burning of Washington.
The Chesapeake Campaign was a joint Royal Navy and British Army operation commanded by Rear Admiral George Cockburn and Major General Ross.
Before landing the British army, Cockburn and the Royal Navy had to eliminate the Chesapeake flotilla, commanded by Commodore Joshua Barney.
In doing so, Ross was able to land Benedict.
Faced with the choice of attacking Baltimore or Washington, Cockburn convinced Ross to head for the capital.
The next morning, August 24, 1814, his highly experienced army swept aside an American force at the Battle of Blandensburg.
The defeat at Blandensburg was recorded as "the greatest shame ever inflicted on American arms."
Another writer called it "the most humiliating episode in American history."
The British now advanced unopposed into the capital on August 24, 1814.
The British then burned major public buildings in Washington, including the Treasury, the Capitol, and the presidential residence.
The red sky above Washington could be seen 40 miles away in Baltimore.
During the night, a storm broke out which extinguished some fires and prevented the complete destruction of the presidential residence, among others.
The next day, with most public buildings destroyed, the British left.
Shortly thereafter, the United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war.
Since then, Britain and the United States have never gone to war again.
#burningofwashington #warof1812 #burningofwashingtondc
Chapters
00:00 The burning of Washington DC, August 1814
0:50 Why did the Washington fire happen?
2:08 Chesapeake Campaign
5:56 p.m. Battle of Blandensburg
10:18 What happened in the Washington fire?
13:25 How did the Washington fire end?
2:30 p.m. What happened after the fire in Washington DC?
17:18 The type of story
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My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap/") and I'm on a mission to share Britain's incredible history so we can appreciate where we come from and why we are here.
The story doesn't have to be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings and queens.
So rather than conferences or YouTube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
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For the record, I have a degree in history and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied.
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