I've been reading a little about the War of 1812. Two interesting tidbits about Detroit.

Prisoners captured at other forts (e.g. Fort Mackinac) were sent to Detroit. Yep, being sent to Detroit has been punishment for 205 years and counting.

It hold the "distinction" of the only major US city to ever fall to a foreign power.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Don't​ mess with Detroit

if you ever go to Camp Perry, (port Clinton Ohio) make a side trip to Bass (?)Island
nice Oliver Hazard Perry memorial there

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

It hold the "distinction" of the only major US city to ever fall to a foreign power.

Doesn't the burning of Washington DC in 1814 by the British count??

quote:

Originally posted by Test1968:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

It hold the "distinction" of the only major US city to ever fall to a foreign power.

Doesn't the burning of Washington DC in 1814 by the British count??

They burned it but only occupied it 26 hours. The British held Detroit from August 1812 until September 1813.

The British also occupied several other cities during the War of 1812, including Alexandria, VA and Bangor, ME, as well as a slew of smaller towns.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
The British also occupied several other cities during the War of 1812, including Alexandria, VA and Bangor, ME, as well as a slew of smaller towns.

That is why I clarified it as MAJOR city

When Detroit was occupied in 1812, it had a population of around 800.

Compare to Bangor, which had a population of around 1000 at the time of its occupation, or Alexandria, which had a population of around 4,000 at the time of its occupation.

Washington D.C. had a population of around 25,000 at the time of its occupation.

In fact, it looks like Detroit wasn't even incorporated as a city at the time of its occupation. That didn't happen until 1815.

So at the time, it was neither major, nor a city.

(Just some good-natured heckling... I'm glad you found a topic that interests you. )

quote:

Originally posted by Test1968:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

It hold the "distinction" of the only major US city to ever fall to a foreign power.

Doesn't the burning of Washington DC in 1814 by the British count??

Yep. Large or small, the capital of a country is by definition 'major'. Well, with Grand Fenwick being a possible exception.

Now, if the claim had been, "only major city to be occupied", that'd pass muster. As has been pointed out, the Brits burnt DC and high-tailed shortly thereafter.