The White House During the War of 1812

The President’s House—now known as the White House—was set ablaze by British troops on August 24, 1814, during an invasion of Washington, D.C., at the height of the War of 1812. The attack was part of a larger British campaign to strike at the American capital after the U.S. burning of York (modern Toronto). Though the interior was gutted, the sandstone walls survived, and the building was eventually restored, becoming an enduring symbol of American resilience.

Historical Context

The War of 1812 began in June 1812 when the United States declared war on Great Britain, protesting impressment of American sailors, trade restrictions, and alleged British support for Indigenous resistance in the Northwest. By 1814, Britain had defeated Napoleon and could redirect veteran troops to North America. In August 1814, a British force under Major General Robert Ross and Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn landed in southern Maryland and marched toward Washington. The city lacked fortifications, and American resistance was weak—most troops were defending other frontiers. The British were determined to avenge the American burning of York (April 1813), where the provincial capital’s parliament buildings were destroyed, and to strike a symbolic blow against the young republic.

What Happened

On August 24, 1814, British forces defeated the American militia at the Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland, opening the road to Washington. President James Madison had ridden out to observe the battle and became separated from the White House. First Lady Dolley Madison remained at the President’s House, packing state papers and ordering the rescue of a Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, which was unscrewed and rolled up before she fled to Virginia.

The British entered Washington that evening. After setting fire to the Capitol, they marched along Pennsylvania Avenue to the President’s House. The mansion was deserted. Officers, including Major General Ross and Rear Admiral Cockburn, dined on food left behind, reportedly toasting “Jemmy” Madison. Soldiers then piled furniture and curtains and set the building alight. According to accounts, Lieutenant George Pratt used oil-soaked poles with fire to ensure a rapid blaze. The interior collapsed, leaving only the outer stone shell. British troops also burned the Treasury building and the War Department, but a sudden rainstorm helped extinguish the flames, preserving some structures. The British occupied Washington for about a day before returning to their ships, and the Madisons returned two days later to find the house gutted.

Why It Matters

The burning of the President’s House was a shocking low point in the War of 1812, exposing the vulnerability of the American capital. In retaliation for the U.S. attack on York, the British deliberately destroyed symbols of American government. The event rallied American public opinion, turning initial embarrassment into a resolve to continue the war. It also led to calls to relocate the capital, but President Madison and others were determined to rebuild. The rebuilding, completed in 1817 under President Monroe, symbolized national persistence. The white paint used to cover the fire damage likely contributed to the building’s common name—the “White House”—which became official in 1901.

Historical Map Context

The President’s House stood on a rise about a mile west of the Capitol, along Pennsylvania Avenue in the newly created District of Columbia. In 1814, the city was undeveloped, with swampy terrain and few paved streets. The British landing at Benedict, Maryland, on the Patuxent River allowed a 30-mile overland march through Bladensburg to Washington. The city’s location on the Potomac was seen as strategic, but its lack of fortifications made it vulnerable to naval attack. Maps from the period show the main buildings—the Capitol, the President’s House, and the Treasury—along a planned axis.

Modern Location

The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. The original sandstone walls were preserved and incorporated into the rebuilt structure. Today, the building is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, and it remains one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

Events at the Site

The burning of the President’s House occurred on August 24–25, 1814. British troops entered the building around 8 p.m., after the Capitol had been set aflame. The mansion was deserted, as the Madisons had fled. Soldiers enjoyed a meal from the White House kitchen, using the president’s china and silver. They then smashed furniture and windows and set a fire that consumed the interior, including the famous oval drawing room. The following morning, the building was still smoldering, but the exterior sandstone walls, designed by architect James Hoban, remained standing.

Associated People

• President James Madison – commander-in-chief during the war; he left to inspect troops at Bladensburg and did not return until after the fire.
• First Lady Dolley Madison – remained behind to save state papers and the Gilbert Stuart Washington portrait; her famous letters provide a firsthand account.
• Major General Robert Ross – British army commander who oversaw the raid on Washington.
• Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn – British naval commander who joined the attack and reportedly dined at the White House.
• Lieutenant James Scott – Cockburn’s aide-de-camp, who described the drink and dinner at the deserted mansion.
• Benjamin Henry Latrobe – architect who had redesigned the White House interiors; his designs were destroyed in the fire.

Surviving Monuments and Site

The White House was rebuilt between 1815 and 1817 under architect James Hoban, using the original sandstone walls. The reconstructed mansion was first occupied by President James Monroe in 1817. Scorch marks from the 1814 fire are still visible on some of the original stones, and two areas have been intentionally left unpainted to commemorate the event. The White House Historical Association preserves the story, and the Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington, saved by Dolley Madison, remains in the White House collection.

Primary Sources

Key contemporary documents include Dolley Madison’s letter to her sister Lucy Todd dated August 23–24, 1814, in which she describes her plans and the fear of imminent British arrival. British accounts include the memoir of Lieutenant George Robert Gleig, who participated in the burning and wrote vivid descriptions, and the recollections of Lieutenant James Scott. The letter from Dolley Madison is held at the Library of Congress, and Gleig’s memoir is published in various editions. These sources provide eyewitness perspectives but are colored by their authors’ emotions and biases.

Further Reading

• Anthony Pitch, The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814 (2000).
• John S. Pancake, 1812: The War for America (1985).
• William Seale, The President’s House: A History (1986).
• Donald R. Hickey, The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict (2012).

References

1. White House Historical Association, “Days of Destruction: August 24-25, 1814,” https://www.whitehousehistory.org/days-of-destruction-august-24-25-1814-1.
2. National Park Service, “Saving History: The White House, Dolley Madison and the War of 1812,” https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/saving-history-the-white-house-dolley-madison-and-the-war-of-1812.htm.
3. White House Historical Association, “Days of Destruction: The President’s House,” https://www.whitehousehistory.org/days-of-destruction-the-presidents-house.
4. HISTORY.com Editors, “British troops set fire to the White House,” August 24, 1814, History.com (A&E Networks), https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-24/british-troops-set-fire-to-the-white-house.