The British Admiral Who Burned The White House Was Nicknamed 'The Ruffian,' And He Sounds Vicious

On August 24, 1814, British forces occupied Washington, D.C. and set fire to public buildings including the White House and the Capitol. The action was taken partly in retaliation for America's destruction of private property along the north shores of Lake Eerie, with a request going from the Governor General of The Canadas to Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and from him to Rear Admiral George Cockburn, who oversaw British forces in the area along with Major General Robert Ross. Although t...