British Embassy Apologizes After Joking About Burning Down The White House

Two hundred years ago Sunday, the British army burned parts of Washington D.C., including the White House, to the ground.

The attack came two years after war reignited between the young country and its former master over the impressment of American sailors, among other issues.

To mark the occasion, the British Embassy Tweeted an unusual reminder Sunday:

We weren't exactly sure this was something worth commemorating. So did many others. So two hours later they Tweeted this:

In any event, for one day, President James Madison resettled the seat of government in the town of Brookeville, Md., about 20 miles due-north of Washington. The town will mark the occassion next weekend.

The War of 1812, as the conflict came to be known, mostly ended in a stalemate, though it proved decisive for the future of then-British Canada, which ultimately repelled American advances, assuring it would not become part of the U.S. The conflict also launched the career of Andrew Jackson.