British Burn Washington: White House and Capitol Ablaze
British troops marched into Washington, D.C., setting fire to the White House and Capitol before retreating in a chaotic display of retaliation. This destruction forced President James Madison to flee the capital and temporarily relocate the government to Baltimore, exposing the vulnerability of the young nation's seat of power.
August 24, 1814
212 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on August 24
Gaius Scribonius Curio crossed into Africa in 49 BC with two legions, chasing Pompey's allies, certain he had the upper hand. He didn't. Publius Attius Varus ha…
Mount Vesuvius unleashed a pyroclastic surge that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum under meters of ash, instantly erasing two thriving Roman cities and killing th…
In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae in volcanic ash. This catastrophic event preserved these cities under …
Valentinian I elevated his eight-year-old son Gratian to the rank of co-Augustus, formalizing a dynastic succession plan to secure the imperial throne. This mov…
The last known inscription in Egyptian hieroglyphs was carved at the Temple of Isis on the island of Philae in 394 AD, a dedication by a priest named Esmet-Akho…
Alaric I and his Visigoth forces breached the Salarian Gate, initiating the first sack of Rome in eight centuries. This collapse of the city’s perceived invulne…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.