Image of two men kissingHomosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook compiled by Rictor Norton

A Female Dragoon, 1739


Saturday, 14 July 1739

Saturday Morning died at Chelsea, Mrs. Christiana Davis, who for several Years served as a Dragoon undiscovered in the Royal Irish Iniskilling Regiment; but receiving a Wound in King William's Wars at Aghrim in Ireland, she was then discover'd; but her Comrade had not the least Suspicion of her being a Woman: She behaved with great Valour, was afterwards in Flanders, and was very useful in a Battle or a Siege to supply the Soldiers, Uc. with Water and other Necessaries, even to the Mouth of a Cannon. She, for her courageous Behaviour, obtained his late Majesty's Letter for an Allowance out of Chelsea-College of one Shilling per Day, which she received 'till her Death. And last Night her Corpse, according to her Desire, was interr'd amongst the old Pensioners in Chelsea Burying Ground, and three grand Vollies fired over her Grave. (Read's Weekly Journal)


CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation:
Rictor Norton (Ed.), "A Female Dragoon, 1739", Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook, 30 December 2005 <http://rictornorton.co.uk/eighteen/dragoon.htm>.


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