<P> After burning the Capitol , the British turned northwest up Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House . After US government officials and President Madison fled the city , the First Lady Dolley Madison received a letter from her husband , urging her to be prepared to leave Washington at a moment 's notice . Dolley organized the slaves and staff to save valuables from the British . James Madison 's personal slave , the fifteen - year - old boy Paul Jennings , was an eyewitness . After later buying his freedom from the widow Dolley Madison , Jennings published his memoir in 1865 , considered the first from the White House : </P>
<P> After burning the Capitol , the British turned northwest up Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House . After US government officials and President Madison fled the city , the First Lady Dolley Madison received a letter from her husband , urging her to be prepared to leave Washington at a moment 's notice . Dolley organized the slaves and staff to save valuables from the British . James Madison 's personal slave , the fifteen - year - old boy Paul Jennings , was an eyewitness . After later buying his freedom from the widow Dolley Madison , Jennings published his memoir in 1865 , considered the first from the White House : </P>
who was president when the white house caught on fire
who was president when the white house caught on fire
President Madison
President Madison