3. The British Burned it Down in 1814
On August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces captured Washington, D.C., and set fire to the White House in retaliation for the American attack on York (now Toronto) in 1813. President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison had already fled to safety in Maryland. The British troops reportedly dined on the White House’s provisions before ransacking and burning the building. The fire caused extensive damage, leaving only the exterior walls standing. Reconstruction began under architect James Hoban and was completed in 1817. (history.com)
