History Today: When the British captured Washington, DC, and set White House on fire

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On this day in 1814, British forces launched one of the most dramatic assaults on the United States by capturing and burning Washington, DC, during the War of 1812. This was the only time in US history that the nation’s capital was occupied and set ablaze by a foreign power.

Here is all that happened on this day.

British forces burned Washington, DC

One of the only times that the capital of the United States - Washington, DC- was captured and burned by foreign forces was on August 24, 1814. During the War of 1812, British forces set fire to the US capital’s most important government buildings, including the White House and the Capitol Building.

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The conflict began two years earlier, as a result of maritime disputes, trade restrictions, and American resentment of British impressment of sailors. By mid-1814, with Napoleon defeated in Europe, Britain redirected more troops and resources to North America, aiming to cripple US morale.

After routing American forces at the Battle of Bladensburg, British troops under Major General Robert Ross marched into Washington virtually unopposed. President James Madison, his Cabinet, and First Lady Dolley Madison fled the city.

Upon entering the city, the British troops systematically torched public structures. First Lady Dolley Madison famously risked her life to save important state papers and Gilbert Stuart’s famous full-length portrait of George Washington before escaping. The destruction was extensive, but the British focused solely on government property, leaving private homes and businesses largely untouched.

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The British occupation lasted only about 26 hours. A severe thunderstorm, possibly a tornado, swept through the city on August 25, dousing the flames and causing further chaos for the British forces. This unexpected turn of events, combined with the fact that their orders were not to occupy the city, prompted their swift withdrawal.

Nato came into existence

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) was formally established as a collective defence alliance. Although it was signed earlier on April 4, in Washington, DC, the treaty officially came into force on this date after ratification by member states.

The treaty was a direct response to the escalating tensions of the Cold War. In the years following World War II, the Soviet Union had consolidated its control over Eastern Europe and was seen as a growing military threat to Western European democracies.

The twelve founding members, namely the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Portugal, pledged to defend one another in case of external aggression. At its heart lay Article 5, a revolutionary clause that declared an attack on one member to be an attack on all, ensuring a united military response to threats, particularly from the Soviet Union.

Over the decades, Nato expansion and adaptation led to the admission of new members and taking on missions beyond its original mandate, including crisis management, peacekeeping, and counterterrorism. Its role became especially significant after the 9/11 attacks, when Article 5 was invoked for the first time to support the United States.

Today, Nato stands as the world’s most powerful military alliance, encompassing 31 nations, including recent entrants like Finland. The organisation continues to evolve in the face of new global challenges, from cyber warfare to Russian aggression in Ukraine.

This Day, That Year

• In 2011, Steve Jobs resigned as the CEO of Apple over health issues.
• Pluto was demoted from planet to dwarf planet in 2006.
• American aviator Amelia Earhart became the first woman to complete a solo nonstop flight across the United States in 1932.