Visit the Grave of British General Edward Braddock

In the rolling hills of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, lies the final resting place of British General Edward Braddock, a key figure in the French and Indian War. A seasoned military officer, Braddock led British and colonial forces in the doomed 1755 campaign to capture Fort Duquesne, which is modern-day Pittsburgh. 

The campaign ended in disaster when a combined force of French troops and Native American warriors near the Monongahela River ambushed his army. Mortally wounded in the battle, Braddock died on July 13, 1755. His death was just over a year after George Washington surrendered to the French at nearby Fort Necessity. 

Visiting Edward Braddock’s Grave

Fearing that enemy forces might desecrate his grave, his soldiers buried him in the middle of the road they had been constructing. To further conceal the site, they marched over it, erasing any trace of the burial. 

About 50 years later, Braddock’s remains were rediscovered by workers who were fixing the road. The remains were moved a short distance to a new burial spot.  In 1913, a granite monument was erected to honor the fallen general. Today, you can see the original burial location and his final resting spot.

Braddock’s grave is a historical site along U.S. Route 40, part of the National Road, and is preserved within Fort Necessity National Battlefield. 

The grave is a great place to stop when visiting Fort Necessity. We have visited Braddock’s Grave a couple of times; it only takes 10 to 20 minutes.