Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

War of 1812

Historical Events

  • 1807-06-22 British board USS Chesapeake, a provocation leading to War of 1812
  • 1812-03-14 US Congress authorizes war bonds to finance War of 1812
  • 1812-06-18 War of 1812 begins as the US declares war against Britain
  • 1812-07-12 US forces led by General Hull invade Canada (War of 1812)

Brownstone Creek Ambush

1812-08-05 War of 1812: Tecumseh's Native American force ambushes Thomas Van Horne's 200 Americans at Brownstone Creek, causing them to flee and retreat

  • 1813-06-24 Battle of Beaver Dams - British and native forces defeat US forces (War of 1812)
  • 1813-07-05 War of 1812: Three weeks of British raids on Fort Schlosser, Black Rock and Plattsburgh, New York begin
  • 1813-12-18 British take Fort Niagara in War of 1812
  • 1813-12-29 British burn Buffalo, New York during War of 1812
  • 1814-07-03 Americans capture Fort Erie, Canada (War of 1812)
  • 1814-07-25 Battle of Niagara Falls (Lundy's Lane), bloodiest battle of the War of 1812 ends in a stalemate between invading American army and Canadian and British forces [1]
  • 1814-08-24 British forces capture Washington, D.C. and destroy many landmarks (War of 1812)
  • 1814-08-25 British forces destroy Library of Congress, containing 3,000 books (War of 1812)
  • 1814-09-11 Begun on the 6th Sept, Americans defeat British at Battle of Plattsburgh during War of 1812
  • 1814-09-12 Battle of North Point fought near Baltimore during War of 1812

Treaty of Ghent Signed

1814-12-24 Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States, the United Kingdom and their allies

  • 1815-01-08 Battle of New Orleans (War of 1812); the war had ended on 24th December 1814 but none of the combatants knew
  • 1815-01-15 War of 1812: the USS President, an American frigate, is captured by four British frigates

Treaty of Ghent Ratified

1815-02-17 Treaty of Ghent ratified by the US Senate and signed by President James Madison ending War of 1812, over a month after it was signed in Europe


Famous Birthdays

  • 1750-05-20 Stephen Girard, French-born American banker (bailed out US bonds during War of 1812), born in Bordeaux, France (d. 1831)

Isaac Brock (1769-1812)

1769-10-06 British army officer who successfully defended Upper Canada in War of 1812, born in St Peter Port, Guernsey

Laura Secord (1775-1868)

1775-09-13 Canadian heroine of the war of 1812, born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts Bay

  • 1779-01-05 Stephen Decatur, American naval hero (War of 1812), born in Sinepuxent, Maryland (d. 1820)
  • 1781-10-01 James Lawrence, American naval hero (War of 1812-"Don't give up the ship!"), born in Burlington, New Jersey (d. 1813)

Pierre Berton (1920-2004)

1920-07-12 Canadian author (War of 1812), born in Whitehorse, Yukon


Famous Deaths

Isaac Brock (1769-1812)

1812-10-13 British army officer who successfully defended Upper Canada in War of 1812, dies in battle at 43

  • 1820-03-22 Stephen Decatur, American military hero Commodore (War of 1812), killed in a duel with Commodore James Barron at 41
  • 1831-12-26 Stephen Girard, French-born American banker (bailed out US bonds during War of 1812), dies at 81
  • 1852-05-12 John Richardson, Canadian writer (War of 1812), dies at 55

Laura Secord (1775-1868)

1868-10-17 Canadian heroine of the war of 1812, dies at 93

Pierre Berton (1920-2004)

2004-11-30 Canadian author (War of 1812), dies of heart failure at 84