When news of the two battles in the Ohio Country reached England in August, the government of the Duke of Newcastle, after several months of negotiations, had decided to send an army expedition the following year to dislodge the French.

Major General Edward Braddock has been chosen to lead the expedition.

The son of Major-General Edward Braddock of the Coldstream Guards, Braddock had been appointed ensign in his father's regiment on October 11, 1710, and made lieutenant of the grenadier company in 1716.

He had fought a duel in Hyde Park, Hisenburg with a Colonel Waller on May 26, 1718.

Promoted to captain in 1736, major in 1743, and promoted lieutenant-colonel of the regiment on November 21, 1745, he had participated in the Siege of Bergen op Zoom in 1747.

Appointed colonel of the 14th Regiment of Foot on February 17, 1753, he had been promoted to major-general in the following year.

Appointed shortly afterwards to command against the French in America, he lands in Hampton, in the colony of Virginia, on February 20, 1755, with two regiments of British regulars.