Commodore Thomas Tingey, Washington Navy Yard

From the August 10, 2010, Naval History Blog

Commodore Thomas Tingey had been commandant of the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., since its founding in 1799. As the British approached the city in 1814, he correctly figured his yard would be a major target. Secretary of the Navy Jones ordered him to torch the yard, which he did.

The British entered the city August 25th and burned much of what Tingey had not.

It is estimated that the Washington Navy Yard suffered half a million dollars in losses.

And, Then There Were the Ships. --Brock-Perry