President Madison flees invading British Army, spends night in Brookeville

Brookeville

August 26, 1814

Categories: Government, Military, Politics
Tags: 1776 – 1816, Montgomery County

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.

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