Military
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On August 24, 1814, after a victory at nearby Bladensburg, Maryland, British soldiers marched on Washington and destroyed the U.S. Capitol and many other public buildings. President James Madison sent word to his wife, Dolley, to flee the President's House, and as the British approached the city, the first lady, with the help of her aides and enslaved workers, escaped with as many treasures as they could. The British arrived at the White House about 11 p.m. and, after nearly an hour of eating and taking souvenirs, torched the structure, leaving only a roofless stone shell. Among the treasures saved was Gilbert Stuart's iconic portrait of George Washington.
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Washington, District of Columbia · United States
