Burning of Washington Burning of Washington The Burning of Washington was a British invasion of Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, during the War of 1812. On August 24, 1814, after defeating the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg, a British force led by Major General Robert Ross burned down buildings including the White House (known as the "Presidential Mansion"), the Capitol, as well as other facilities of the U.S. government. The attack was in part a retaliation for the recent American destruction of Port Dover in Upper Canada. The Burning of Washington marks the only time since the American Revolutionary
Potton (1814 ship) Potton (1814 ship) Potton was launched in 1814 and shortly thereafter made one of two voyages under charter to the British East India Company (EIC). Between voyages for the EIC and after she was a general trader until she foundered in 1829. "Potton" enters the "Register of Shipping" in 1815 with Fairburn, master, changing to Welbank. Her trade was Hull—London, changing to Hull—Bengal. EIC voyage #1 (1815-1816): (1) 1814/5 Bengal. Captain Thomas Wellbank sailed from the Downs on 22 May 1815. "Potton" left Calcutta on 8 May 1816 and on 25 May was at Saugor. She reached the Cape of