Whether you consider yourself a War of 1812 aficionado or just a history enthusiast, “1812: Portraits of War” will captivate you. The program offers an all-star lineup of speakers discussing the lives of individuals on display in the museum’s current exhibition, “1812: A Nation Emerges.”

• Catherine Allgor, Professor of History, University of California Riverside “Mrs. Madison’s War: Dolley Madison’s Work During the War of 1812”
• David Hanna, Naval Historian, Lawrence and Perry Ralph Ketcham, Maxwell Professor Emeritus of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University, “James Madison as Wartime President”
• Peter MacLeod, Pre-Confederation Historian, Canadian War Museum, “Canadian Heroes of the War of 1812”
• John McCavitt, Irish Historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, “Major General Ross: An Officer, A Gentleman, A Conflagrator”
• Steve Vogel, Military Reporter for The Washington Post, “The Admiral and the Commodore: George Cockburn, Joshua Barney and the Fight for Washington”
• Senator Jim Webb, United States Senator from Virginia, “Andrew Jackson”

Accompanying the National Portrait Gallery exhibition “1812: A Nation Emerges,” this program will explore the lives of extraordinary individuals whose actions shaped the War of 1812. The discussion will feature notable figures, such as James Madison, America’s first war president; Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans; Tecumseh, a Native American warrior; Dolley Madison, who famously held her ground in Washington; several naval heroes and key British generals. “1812: Portraits of War” will shed light on the people of both sides of this international conflict that changed American history. Registration required. For more information and to register, e-mail [email protected]. The Edgar P. Richardson Symposia, an ongoing program at the National Portrait Gallery, is sponsored by a grant from Robert L. McNeil, Jr. The exhibition, “1812: A Nation Emerges,” is open through January 27, 2013.

Visit the National Portrait Gallery website for more information: npg.si.edu