Lucy brewer biography marine war of 1812 death

Lucy Brewer is the

The lore behind a great story is often as compelling as the story itself. The Female Marine; or the Adventures of Lucy Brewer was originally published by Nathaniel Coverly in as a series of pamphlets sold across Boston and advertised as the autobiographical account of Lucy Brewer, lauded as the first woman to serve in the Navy.

As a sixteen year old, Lucy Brewer becomes pregnant by a boy who refuses to marry her. Lucy runs away to Boston, filled with shame and the fear of dishonoring their family, where they suffer a miscarriage. After three years working in a brothel, where they are deeply unhappy and disgusted by the women they work alongside and the men they meet, Lucy escapes by joining the Marine Corps dressed as a man to fight in the War of They take the name George Baker and serve aboard the U.

Constitution for three years, fighting competently in battles against the British while keeping their true identity—and gender—a secret. They return home to their parents in Plymouth, content in transitioning back into their life as a woman. While it would be preferable to ask Lucy what their pronouns are, using gender neutral language prevents having to switch back and forth between multiple sets of pronouns.

Cohen argues that it would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Lucy to keep their gender a secret for three years on board the U. Constitution, and no record of any marine named George exists from this time period. Nathaniel Coverly, Jr. Perhaps the character of Lucy is modeled after someone Coverly or Wright knew, or perhaps they are merely imagined.

Regardless, this story provides a unique opportunity to discuss what gender disobedience might look like in a work of 19 th century fiction. Lucy is deeply concerned with maintaining their virtue, but never describes their male alias as compromising to their values.