War of 1812

Historical eventDecember 291812

War of 1812

War of 1812: In a three-hour single-ship action, HMS Java (drawing shown) was captured by USS Constitution off the coast of Brazil.

Everything on December 29Original source
Photo: Artist: Milner, Frederick M., 1889-1939. · Public domain

In context

When
Tuesday, December 29 1812214 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
19th century · 1810s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: 1812-06-18 – 1815-02-18.

Place: Atlantic Ocean, United States.

Type: war.

Key figures / parties: The Canadas, United States, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Tecumseh's Confederacy, Choctaw, Cherokee, Shawnee, and Muscogee.

What came before

Part of: Sixty Years' War and United Kingdom–United States relations.

What happened

The War of 1812 was a conflict initiated by the United States against the United Kingdom and its allies fought mainly in North America and at sea during the wider Napoleonic Wars. The United States declared war on Britain on 18 June 1812. Although peace terms were agreed upon in the December 1814 Treaty of Ghent, the war did not officially end until the peace treaty was ratified by the United States Senate on 17 February 1815.

December 29 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1812War of 1812
  2. 1996Guatemala
  3. 1998Khmer Rouge
  4. 2003Akkala Sámi
  5. 2006Anglo-American loan
  6. 2012Tupolev Tu-204
  7. 2013Formula One
  8. 2013December 2013 Volgograd bombings
  9. 20202020 Petrinja earthquake
  10. 2023South Africa
  11. 2024Jeju Air Flight 2216

Also in 1812

  • May 11Spencer PercevalSpencer Perceval was shot in the lobby of the House of Commons, becoming the only British prime minister to be assassinated.
  • August 15War of 1812War of 1812: Potawatomi warriors ambushed a United States Army convoy after it had evacuated Fort Dearborn, in present-day Chicago, and r…
  • November 3French invasion of RussiaFrench invasion of Russia: As Napoleon's Grande Armée began its retreat, its rear guard was defeated at the Battle of Vyazma.
  • June 221812 French declaration of war on RussiaFrance declared war on Russia, starting Napoleon's invasion two days later.
  • January 10New Orleans (steamboat)New Orleans (pictured), the first steamship on the Mississippi River, arrived at New Orleans to complete its maiden voyage.
  • June 24Napoleonic WarsNapoleonic Wars: Led by Napoleon, the French Grande Armée crossed the Neman, beginning their invasion of Russia.
  • April 6Peninsular WarPeninsular War: After a three-week siege, the Anglo-Portuguese Army, under the Earl of Wellington, captured Badajoz, Spain, and forced th…
  • October 13War of 1812War of 1812: British troops and Mohawk warriors repelled an American invasion from across the Niagara River at the Battle of Queenston He…

Everything we record for 1812 →

Sources

Cite this page

“War of 1812”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/war-of-1812-1812-december-29, accessed October 28, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did War of 1812 happen?

December 29 1812 — 214 years ago, on a Tuesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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