Ralph J. Bunche Library to begin a collection of laws of the states, and $25 for the purchase of foreign gazettes and subscriptions to American newspapers that would be sent to American representatives overseas. In that same year, the Library also became, by law, the office of record to receive laws, public documents, and copyrights. During the War of 1812, the invading British burned the Capital, the White House, and other government buildings including that which housed the State Department and its library on August 24, 1814. While Dolley Madison famously saved the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington hanging in the White House,
HMS Pictou (1814) HMS Pictou (1814) HMS "Pictou" was the American letter of marque schooner "Zebra" that the Royal Navy captured in 1813. The Admiralty purchased her in 1814 and she served on the North America station during the War of 1812 before the navy sold her in 1818. On 20 April 1813 the British frigates and captured "Zebra" off the west coast of France as "Zebra" was sailing from Bordeaux to New York. At the time the British frigate was in sight. "Zebra" carried ten guns and a crew of 38 men under the command of Captain L. Bourne. By 26 July