French fort at the confluence of the Alleghany and Ohio rivers. It was first built by Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia in 1753 and Washington with 150 men was sent to garrison it. Before the arrival of Washington, Contrecoeur had captured the fort, which was then strengthened by the French and the building completed (1753). General Braddock was defeated in 1755 when attempting to recapture the fort. It is given in Bougainville's list who says that it was made "of wood, small, of little account, controlled by two approaches within gunshot; in a word, indefensible, if attacked. It is necessary to prevent the English from seizing these parts. It ought to be a more respectable fort which in time of war could hold 500 or 600 men as garrison". Under the French regime it was rated as one of the King's posts for trade.

In 1758 it was captured by the English after being abandoned and blown up by the French. The name was changed to Fort Pitt and the settlement was called Pittsbourg. It was rebuilt by the English after 1761. It was attacked by Pontiac in 1763 and the attack repulsed. Map (97).