WHITE HOUSE DOWN, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN

Famously known as the Battle of Bladensburg, in the War of 1812, the battle between the United States and the United Kingdom, was the greatest dishonour for the Americans. On August 24, 1814, the British force occupied Washington D.C. and set many public buildings on fire including the Presidential Mansion called the White House. Today is the 201st anniversary of the burning of the White House. Let's look at how it all started and some facts related to the event:

James Madison was the fourth President of the United States in the year 1814 On August 24, when the British arrived at the White House, they found that President James Madison and the first lady Dolley had already fled to safety in Maryland It is said that the British soldiers reportedly sat down to eat the leftover meal before looting the presidential mansion and setting it on fire Before this event, Madison had asked his wife to gather important state papers and be prepared to abandon the White House at any moment Dolley did not consider saving her personal papers but decided to only save a full-length portrait of former president George Washington from desecration because of its symbolic value Since the portrait was screwed to the wall, she broke the frame and pulled out the canvas After fleeing the White House, President Madison spent the night in the house of a Quaker, Caleb Bentley. From that day, Bentley's house is known as the Madison House The President and his wife never again lived in the White House It is said that after the White House fire, white paint was applied to cover the burn damage it had suffered It is also believed that of the many important things taken from the White House, only two have been recovered - a painting of George Washington and a jewellery box In some parts of town, every house was damaged by the British troops In the town, trees were uprooted, chimneys collapsed, roofs were ripped off and homes were flattened.