When Washington Burned: The British Invasion of the Capital and a Nation's Rise from the Ashes
Document Type
Lecture
Publication Date
7-8-2025
Abstract
Perhaps no other single day in U.S. history was as threatening to the survival of the nation as August 24, 1814, when British forces captured Washington, D.C. This unique moment significantly altered the nation’s path forward, but the event and the reasons behind it are little remembered by most Americans.
Distinguished professor of American history at Lynn University Robert P. Watson examines the British campaign and American missteps that led to the fall of Washington during the War of 1812. He analyzes the actions of key figures on both sides, such as President James Madison and General William Winder and Britain’s Rear Admiral George Cockburn and Major General Robert Ross.
Watson pinpoints the reasons the campaign was such a disaster for the United States and covers the stories of the courageous young clerks and the bold first lady, Dolley Madison, who risked their lives to save priceless artifacts and documents, including the Constitution, from the flames. The British invasion was repulsed over the following weeks and months, and the United States ultimately emerged stronger.
Evening Lecture/Seminar
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Time: 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Location: This online program is presented on Zoom.
Host
Smithsonian Institution
City/State
Washington, DC
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Recommended Citation
Watson, R. P. (2025, July 8). When Washington burned: The British invasion of the Capital and a nation's rise from the ashes [Lecture]. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States.
