President Madison flees invading British Army, spends night in Brookeville

Brookeville
August 26, 1814

After fleeing Washington from an invading British army, President James Madison spends a night in Brookeville, MD. With his entourage in tow and a strongbox containing the entire U.S. Treasury, the President makes the small Quaker community the U.S. Capital for a day.

Brookeville is also the home of Thomas Moore (1760-1822), who with another local citizen, Caleb Bentley (1762-1851), is the founder of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Moore also is credited with inventing the first refrigerator to transport and sell fresh butter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Town of Brookeville

View Other Mosaic Pieces

Oldest Unitarian Church

The oldest Unitarian Church in the country, designed by Maximilian Godefroy, is opened in 1818, and is dedicated to “Unitarians” who “cherish the liberal sentiments on the subject of religion”.

Read More »

Reaper developed on Carroll County Farm

Jacob R. Thomas, a Carroll County farmer, assembles a wheat reaping machine in 1811 and tries it out locally. It doesn’t cut well, but the first experiment with a mechanical reaper ushers in the age of agricultural machinery.

Read More »

B&O Railroad begins

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad begins with a cornerstone in Baltimore and an initial trip to Ellicott City in 1827. The train line crosses the Thomas Viaduct, the first large arched and curved stone bridge.

Read More »

Land Recognition

We acknowledge the enduring presence of many American Indian tribes who once lived in Maryland and who now, having lost their lands, live in a diaspora. Read more.

© 2023 MARYLAND 400

Scroll to Top