When Washington Burned: The British Invasion of the Capital and a Nation's Rise from the Ashes

Written by Robert P. Watson

Narrated by Christopher Douyard

Perhaps no other single day in United States history was as threatening to the survival of the nation as August 24, 1814, when British forces captured Washington, DC. This unique moment might have significantly altered the nation's path forward, but the event and the reasons why it happened are little remembered by most Americans.

When Washington Burned narrates and examines the British campaign and American missteps that led to the fall of Washington during the War of 1812. Watson analyzes the actions of key figures on both sides, such as President James Madison and General William Winder on the United States side and Rear Admiral George Cockburn and Major General Robert Ross on the British side. He pinpoints the reasons the campaign was such a disaster for the United States but also tells the redeeming stories of the courageous young clerks and the bold first lady, Dolley Madison, who risked their lives to save priceless artifacts and documents from the flames, including the Constitution. The British invasion was repulsed over the coming weeks and months, and the United States ultimately emerged stronger.

General listeners interested in the history of Washington, United States history, and military history will be fascinated by this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Nov 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350834369

Robert P. Watson

Robert P. Watson is a professor, author, frequent media commentator, and former candidate for the United States House of Representatives. He has taught at Northern Arizona University, the University of Hawaii-Hilo, and with the Junior Statesman Foundation at Yale, Stanford, and Georgetown. In 2007 he joined Lynn University as the Director of American Studies and is also Professor of American Studies. He was instrumental in bringing the Third Presidential Debate of 2012 to Lynn University.