Which British admiral commanded the naval force that supported the burning of Washington?

The British admiral who commanded the naval force supporting the burning of Washington was George Cockburn.

Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn had commanded British naval operations in Chesapeake Bay since 1813. In August 1814, he helped plan and lead the expedition that landed British troops in Maryland and advanced toward Washington, D.C. The British victory at Bladensburg on August 24 opened the road to the American capital.

The attack was a joint operation. Major General Robert Ross led the principal army force into Washington, while Cockburn provided naval leadership, operational guidance, and troops and sailors for the campaign. British forces burned the Capitol, the President’s House, the Navy Yard, and other government buildings that evening.

Alexander Cochrane was the broader commander-in-chief of the Royal Navy’s North America and West Indies Station, so he is sometimes associated with the operation. Cockburn, however, is the admiral specifically identified with the Chesapeake force and the attack on Washington.