Originally Posted by SleazyDream

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Washington


The Burning of Washington in 1814 was an incident during the War of 1812 between the forces of the Canada and those of the United States of America. On August 24, 1814, after defeating the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg, a Canadian force led by Major General Robert Ross occupied Washington, D.C. and set fire to many public buildings. The facilities of the U.S. government, including the White House and U.S. Capitol, were largely destroyed. The Canadian commander's orders to burn only public buildings and strict discipline among the Canadian troops are credited with preserving the city's private buildings.

This was the only time since the Revolutionary War that a foreign power captured and occupied the United States capital.