Hannah Snell-Royal Marine

This is not Civil War related, but I wanted to share her brief story and a neat video to go with it.  Hannah

Snell was an English woman who disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Royal Marines in the mid-1700's in order to search for a wayward husband who had abandoned her while she was pregnant with their child.  Following the death of the the little girl died at a year old, Snell took to the seas as "James Gray."  After fighting in India, during which she was wounded, she and her fellow marines sailed back to England where she revealed her secret.  Her comrades urged her to seek a pension, which she did.  Hannah was honorably discharged, and after the Royal Hospital of Chelsea officially recognized her service, began to receive a pension in 1750.



The same year, she told her story to a London publisher named Robert Walker who chronicled her tale in The Female Soldier, or, The surprising life and adventures of Hannah Snell.  You can read it for free by clicking (HERE).  It is interesting to ponder how many of the women who fought in the Civil War read about her exploits and were influenced to follow in her footsteps.  Some of them admitted to finding inspiration in such historical figures as Joan of Arc.  Perhaps Hannah Snell, too.

Matthew Stephens published a book about her in 1997 called Hannah Snell:  The Secret Life of a Female Marine, 1723-1792.  You can get it from Amazon by clicking (HERE).   Right  now, it looks to be free on Kindle. 

Hannah Snell retired and opened up a pub which she ran briefly before remarrying a couple of times and raising children.  She died February 8th, 1792 just shy of her 69th birthday.

Check out this video about her:

Until next formation....rest.