Edward Braddock

Edward Braddock (1695-1755), British soldier, commander in chief of British forces in America, born near Perth, Scotland. In 1755, during the French and Indian War, he led an expedition against Fort Duquesne, a French stronghold on the site of what is now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With an advance force of 1200 chosen men, regulars and provincials, he reached the Monongahela River, a branch of the Ohio, on July 8. Braddock and the advance column marched to a point about 11 km (about 7 mi) from the fort, where they were ambushed by Native Americans and the French. The British were completely routed, and more than 900 of Braddock's men were killed or wounded. The survivors were led to safety by George Washington, then a Braddock aide with the rank of colonel. Braddock was mortally wounded and died a few days later.