Brits steal White House Furniture - Dubya wants it back

Robert Ross (1766 - September 12, 1814) was a British army officer, born in Ireland who led the British troops in the attack on the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, where the American army , mainly composed of militias quickly collapsed. Moving on from Bladensburg, Ross captured Washington, D.C. with little resistance. Ross insisted on only destroying public property, including the destruction of the U.S. Capitol and the White House.

He is commemorated by a 100 ft granite obelisk near his birthplace on the shores of Carlingford Lough in County Down. There is also a monument to his memory by Josephus Kendrick in the South transept, St Paul's Cathedral, London.

As a result of this action the Lancashire Fusiliers helped in the sackjing and burning of the White House in which they stole and shipped back to England the furniture and various bits of pottery etc.,

As a result these spoils of war are now are in the stewardship of the Trustees of the Museum of the Lancashire Fusiliers for perpetuity, but for reasons of space were sent to the Imperial war Museum.

Apparently Dubya has asked his good buddy Tony for his chairs back.

It will be interesting to see if this loot, held in perpetuity by the Lancashire Fusiliers Trustees, has or will find it's way back the the home of President James Madison who had so unwisely declared war on Britain On June 19th 1812. Fortunately the First Lady Dolly Madison was warned of the immminent arrival of the conquering British. She and her staff fled across the Potomac - taking with her the portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart that had been torn from a White House wall see pic above ... and leaving the furniture.

Cue : Elgin Marbles