President's House

One of the most famous incidents of the British occupation of Washington is the burning of the White House and Dolley Madison's "rescue" of a portrait of George Washington. Mrs. Madison had been waiting for her husband, the President, to return with members of his cabinet for a dinner. She waited until the last minute to leave, directing the household staff and slaves to save certain items; the actual removal of the portrait was done by a French servant and an enslaved man. When the British arrived at the White House, they ate the dinner prepared and may have stolen some items from the house before setting it ablaze.