Fort Shirley

Fort Shirley
Shirleysburg, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Fort Shirley is located in Pennsylvania
Fort Shirley
Fort Shirley
Location of Fort Shirley in Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°17′49″N 77°52′29″W / 40.29694°N 77.87472°W / 40.29694; -77.87472
TypeMilitary fort
Site history
Built1755
In use1755-1756
Battles/warsFrench and Indian War
Garrison information
Past
commanders
Captain George Croghan
Captain Hugh Mercer
Garrison30-60 men plus officers
Designated1926
Reconstructed stockade and blockhouse similar to the original Fort Shirley.

Fort Shirley (initially known as Croghan's Fort) was a military fort located in present-day Shirleysburg, Pennsylvania.[1] It was built in 1755 by George Croghan and later maintained by the Province of Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War. Fort Shirley was part of a defensive line of forts built in Pennsylvania during 1755 and 1756, at the start of hostilities with the French and their allied Native Americans. Although two French and Native American war parties were sent to capture it, Fort Shirley was never attacked. The fort served as the launching site for the Kittanning Expedition in September 1756, after which it was abandoned.

1770 map of the Province of Pennsylvania showing Fort Shirley below and to the left of the map's center.
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