Winder, William Henry, 1775-1824

Brigadier General William Henry Winder was born on February 18, 1775 to William Winder and Charlotte Henry in Rewastico Creek, Wicomico County, Maryland. He married Gertrude Polk and together they had at least two sons, one of which was Brig. General (CSA) John H. Winder. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and became a lawyer. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate. Br. Gen. Winder is best known for commanding the U.S. troops at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, where the British troops defeated the Americans and, subsequently, set Washinton D.C. on fire, destroying both the White House and the Capitol Building. He was courts martialed for his actions but was cleared of all charges. He died in Baltimore on May 24, 1824, and was lauded as a chivalrous, kind, intelligent philanthropist and public servant