Fort Prince George facts for kids
Fort Prince George was an important but unfinished fort in what is now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was located where the Allegheny River and Monongahela River meet. This spot was very important because it controlled access to the Ohio River Valley.
The area was first used as a trading post in the 1740s by William Trent, a trader from the Ohio Company. The fort was named after Prince George, who later became King George III.
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What Was Fort Prince George?
Fort Prince George was meant to be a strong military base. It was built by 41 men from Virginia starting in January 1754. The plan to build a fort at this key location came from Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, Robert Dinwiddie. He got advice from Lieutenant Colonel George Washington. Washington had visited the area in late 1753 to warn the French that they were on English land. He saw how important the spot was for military control.
Why Was This Spot So Important?
The place where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers join is called the "Forks of the Ohio." It was a very strategic location. Controlling this spot meant controlling trade and travel in a large part of North America. Both the British and the French wanted to control it.
Building and Losing the Fort
Captain Trent was in charge of building Fort Prince George. However, he was away at a meeting when a large force of 1,000 French soldiers and Native Americans arrived. They were led by Claude-Pierre Pécaudy de Contrecœur. Captain Trent's second-in-command, Lieutenant John Fraser, was also away.
On April 18, 1754, Ensign Edward Ward was left to surrender the fort. The French took control of the unfinished fort without a fight. This event was a major starting point for the French and Indian War. It also led to George Washington's surprise attack at the Battle of Jumonville Glen.
What Happened Next?
Lieutenant Fraser was later investigated for being away when the fort was surrendered. However, he was found innocent. He later became a chief scout for General Edward Braddock's army.
Other Forts at the Forks
Fort Prince George was the first of five forts built at the "Forks of the Ohio." Each fort played a role in controlling this important area:
- After taking Fort Prince George, the French built Fort Duquesne.
- The British captured Fort Duquesne in 1758 during the Forbes Expedition. They then built Fort Pitt in its place.
- Mercer's Fort was a temporary British fort. It was built to protect against French attacks while Fort Pitt was being constructed.
- The last fort in downtown Pittsburgh was an American post called Fort Lafayette. It was located a bit further up the Allegheny River.
