aug 24, 1814 - Burning of Washington
Description:
A British invasion of Washington DC, the US capital, as part of the War of 1812. British General Robert Ross led troops into the city and occupied it, burning down the White House and other government buildings. They remained there for just over a day (26 hours) before a sudden hurricane-level storm set in and put out the fires, as well as generating a tornado that forced the British to retreat. This marks the only time Washington DC was occupied by a foreign nation (the British had also occupied Philadelphia, then the US capital, during the American Revolutionary War).Added to timeline:
Date:
aug 24, 1814
Now
~ 210 years ago