Prisoners of War and the War of 1812

In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World, Nicholas Guyatt, a Professor of North American History at the University of Cambridge, joins us to investigate the War of 1812 and the experiences of American prisoners of war using details from his book, The Hated Cage: An American Tragedy in Britain’s Most Terrifying Prison (Basic Books, 2022).

During this episode, Guyatt reveals a brief history of the War of 1812 and its causes; The history of Dartmoor Prison and why it was thought an ideal place to house Great Britain’s prisoners of war; And, details about how American prisoners of war experienced life inside Dartmoor Prison until the prison was fully evacuated in July 1815.

You can listen to the podcast here.

Ben Franklin’s World is an award-winning podcast. It’s for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our world. Each episode features an interview with a historian who shares their unique insights into our early American past. It is a production of the Omohundro Institute.

For a full list of this week’s New York Almanack podcasts announcements click HERE.