John Carlyle’s wife Sarah is surrounded by her servants and friends as she awaits the birth of her third child. Louise Krafft
Just two years after British merchant John Carlyle completed work on his new home in Alexandria, the Commander-in-chief of His Majesty’s Forces in North America paid him a visit. The commander was Major General Edward Braddock. He was leading an expedition against the French in the Ohio Valley near what is now Pittsburg. The general arrived with 800 soldiers who were billeted in the town while he chose Carlyle’s home as his residence. The general called a meeting of five colonial governors to plan the military campaign and gain funding from the colonies to pay for the war. The meeting has been since know as “the grandest congress” and took place on April 14, 1755.