Event of 1814: Burning of Washington during the War of 1812, British troops set fire to landmar

Background. Following Napoleon's defeat in April 1814, Britain redirected naval and military resources to the war with the United States. Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane commanded the North America and West Indies Station, utilizing bases in Bermuda and Halifax to blockade American ports. The British campaign aimed to retaliate for American looting and burning of York and Port Dover in Upper Canada during 1813, setting the stage for the attack on Washington.

The Attack. On August 24, 1814, a British force of 4,500 men led by Major-General Robert Ross and Rear Admiral George Cockburn entered Washington after defeating American forces at Bladensburg. That evening, soldiers and sailors set fire to multiple public buildings, including the Capitol, the White House, and the Washington Navy Yard. The destruction was estimated at £365,000, encompassing the Senate, House, Treasury, and War Office.

Reactions and Aftermath. Most Americans viewed the burning as a national humiliation, though Thomas Jefferson argued it aroused national indignation. The British public generally saw the act as justified retaliation for American actions in Canada. However, some British commentators criticized the destruction as vandalism. The event prompted the construction of the Old Brick Capitol, where Congress met until the original Capitol reopened in 1819.