William Winder

American soldier (1775-1824).

A promising Maryland lawyer, William Winder was commissioned as a colonel in the U.S. army at the start of the War of 1812. Promoted to brigadier general, he was one of two acting commanders of the American army at the Battle of Stoney Creek in 1813, where he was captured, along with fellow commander John Chandler.

Exchanged in 1814, Winder was appointed commander of the defenses of Washington and Baltimore by president James Madison. When the British invaded Maryland that year, he sent his forces to meet them at the Battle of Bladensburg. He himself arrived too late to take effective command, and retreated in the ensuing rout.