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 multiple buildings , including the White House ( then called the '' Presidential Mansion '' ) , the Capitol building , 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 War that a foreign power has captured and occupied the United States capital . It was the only significant foreign attack on Washington , D.C. until the September 11 attacks 187 years later , and remains the most devastating attack in the city 's history
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Burning of Washington