Fort Loudoun was a British fort located in what is now Monroe County, Tennessee. Constructed from 1756 until 1757, it was one of the first significant British outposts west of the Appalachian Mountains. The fort was designed by John William Gerard de Brahm, while its construction was supervised by Captain Raymond Demeré; the fort’s garrison was commanded by Demeré’s brother, Paul Demeré. It was named for the Earl of Loudoun, the commander of British forces in North America at the time.

Books about Fort Loudon Lake

Fort Loudon Lake Fun Book: A Fun and Educational Book on Fort Loudon Lake

Fort Loudon Lake Water Safety Coloring Book

The French and Indian War

The fort was built during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), a conflict between Great Britain and France for control of North America. The British hoped that Fort Loudoun would help them to:

• Gain the support of the Cherokee people, who lived in the area
• Secure a trade route to the Mississippi River
• Counter French influence in the region

The Cherokee Uprising

However, the relationship between the British and the Cherokee soon soured. In 1760, the Cherokee people, angered by British encroachment on their land and by the British slave trade, launched a series of attacks on British settlements in the region. Fort Loudoun was besieged by the Cherokee for several months, and the British garrison eventually surrendered in 1760.

The Aftermath

The fall of Fort Loudoun marked a major setback for the British in the French and Indian War. The Cherokee uprising also had a devastating impact on the Cherokee people, as they were forced to cede a large amount of land to the British in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1763.

Today

Fort Loudoun is now a state park, and the site of the fort has been reconstructed. Visitors can learn about the history of the fort and the Cherokee people by exploring the reconstructed fort, the museum, and the hiking trails.

The park is open to the public year-round, and there is a fee for admission. The park is located about 30 miles south of Knoxville, Tennessee.