Dick

Dick was a parrot who lived at the White House during the presidency of James Madison — and he was smarter than most of the politicians in Washington.

Yes, there really was a White House pet named Dick. The gray parrot belonged to James and Dolley Madison, and he was famous for being one of the smartest birds in America.

Dick lived in the White House during a dramatic time. In 1814, during the War of 1812, British troops marched on Washington and set fire to the White House. Dolley Madison famously saved a portrait of George Washington before fleeing. But she could only take so much — and Dick the parrot was left behind.

According to the story, Dolley was heartbroken to leave Dick. But the parrot wasn't going down without a fight. When the British soldiers entered the White House, they found Dick — who had been taught by Dolley to whistle and talk. The parrot was so entertaining that a British soldier took him as a prize and brought him back to England.

Dick spent the rest of his life in England, far from the White House he once called home. But his story is one of the strangest and most memorable in presidential pet history — a talking parrot who was captured by the British during the burning of the White House.