Final answer:
The presidential mansion and several other government buildings in Washington, D.C. were burned during the War of 1812 by the British.
Step-by-step explanation:
The presidential mansion and several other government buildings in Washington, D.C. were burned during the War of 1812 by the British.
During this war, the British attacked Washington, D.C. and destroyed public buildings, including the Capitol and the White House. The British burned these buildings to the ground, although their sandstone exteriors survived.
One of the terrible losses during this event was the burning of the Library of Congress, which was housed in the Capitol at the time.