Hannah Snell, the Female Soldier Who Disguised Herself as a Man

Born on 23 April 1723, Hannah Snell was a child of Worcester’s Friar Street, growing up as the daughter of Samuel Snell, a hosier and dyer by trade. Even as a young girl, Hannah seemed to have an adventurous streak. She could be seen rallying the neighbourhood children for pretend parades and military exercises, a makeshift “regiment” marching through the streets under her direction. No one could have guessed that one day she’d lead more than just childhood friends on these military drills.

Life, however, took a harsher turn as she grew up. Hannah’s youthful spirit found its first real challenge in a disastrous marriage. At the age of 20, she married a Dutch sailor named James Summes. If she’d hoped for a steady, reliable partner, she was about to be sorely disappointed. Summes quickly revealed himself to be, well—let’s say he wasn’t the “stand by your side” type. He abandoned her as she was carrying their child, leaving her alone to face both motherhood and heartbreak. Her infant daughter didn’t survive, adding another layer of loss to her world. But Hannah decided to do the unexpected instead of allowing herself to be defeated. She donned a disguise, borrowed a suit of clothes from her brother-in-law, and took on a new name: James Gray. She wasn’t about to let society, or even fate, write the script of her life.

Hannah’s search for her husband led her to Coventry, where, in 1745, she did something even more shocking than adopting a man’s name: she enlisted in the Duke of Northumberland’s regiment. It was unthinkable, and surely it must have felt that way to her at times. She drilled, marched, and trained alongside male soldiers, all the while carrying the weight of a secret that could ruin her.

This deception might have lasted indefinitely if not for one unfortunate entanglement. A sergeant’s wife, noticing the “handsome young recruit,” developed an interest in Hannah, unaware of her real identity. The sergeant himself became suspicious, eventually ordering a punishment of flogging that would test her resolve. Imagine the tension of that moment, Hannah, her back bare but facing the whipping post with her front carefully shielded, enduring the lashes to protect her secret. She survived this brutal ordeal and managed to keep her identity hidden, but the close call convinced her it was time to leave.

Still in disguise, she deserted the Duke’s regiment and made her way to Portsmouth. There, a new opportunity awaited.

Hannah’s next chapter began in Portsmouth in 1747, where she enlisted in the Royal Marines under Colonel Fraser’s regiment. This time, she wasn’t just marching to nearby towns or remote parts of England. Her path would take her overseas, far from home and into battles more dangerous than anything she’d previously faced.

Boarding HMS Swallow, Hannah sailed through rough seas, enduring conditions that would test even the toughest mariner. But her real test came when the fleet docked in the East Indies, where British forces were engaged in heavy combat with the French. In 1748, Hannah and her fellow soldiers launched an attack on Pondicherry, a well-fortified French settlement in India. The fighting was brutal, intense, and for Hannah, especially dangerous. She sustained a staggering 12 wounds during the battle, including a bullet lodged in her groin.

Now, here’s where the story takes a turn into almost unbelievable bravery: rather than risk revealing her true sex by going to the regimental surgeon, she reportedly either removed the bullet herself or enlisted the help of a local woman who promised to keep her secret. Whether this was fact or legend, it became a key part of the mythology surrounding Hannah Snell. And whatever the exact details, it’s clear this woman had a resolve that few could match.

Hannah eventually returned to England in 1750, still very much incognito. But she’d come to a decision. This time, she would tell the world the truth rather than keep hiding. In a crowded London tavern on 2 June 1750, surrounded by her comrades, Hannah, known to them as James Gray, dropped the bombshell: she was, in fact, a woman. The astonishment of her fellow soldiers must have been overwhelming; for two years, they’d fought, marched, and suffered alongside her without ever suspecting. Her story became the talk of London almost overnight.

With her story out in the open, Hannah petitioned the Duke of Cumberland, requesting a military pension. And, in what was a remarkably progressive move for the time, she received it. Not only did the Royal Hospital Chelsea recognise her service, but she also sold her story to a London publisher, Robert Walker. Walker’s book, The Female Soldier, brought her even more fame, recounting her daring deeds in vivid, if occasionally embellished, detail.

For a time, Hannah became a minor celebrity. She performed military drills on the London stage in full uniform, drawing crowds eager to see the “woman soldier” in action. Three different artists painted her portrait, each depicting her in the attire of a man, symbolising her defiance of social conventions and her incredible courage. But fame is a fickle friend, and it wouldn’t last forever.

Hannah’s fame gave her some financial stability, but it didn’t guarantee happiness. She briefly ran a pub in Wapping, The Female Warrior, but the venture wasn’t particularly successful. Still, she found a way to live independently, even as her public spotlight faded.

Hannah remarried twice in the following years. Her second husband, Richard Eyles, became the father of her two sons, and when he passed, she married Richard Habgood. This final marriage brought her to the Midlands, where she hoped for a quieter life. But as time wore on, Hannah’s mental health began to decline. In 1791, she was admitted to Bethlem Hospital, known as Bedlam, a place infamous for its harsh treatment of the mentally ill. Hannah died in 1792 at 69, a sombre end for such a spirited life. She was buried in Chelsea Hospital’s graveyard, surrounded by the men with whom she had shared so much, even if they never quite knew it.

Today, Hannah Snell’s legacy is a unique chapter in British history. A blue plaque marks her childhood home on Friar Street in Worcester, a reminder of the young girl who refused to follow a conventional path. Her story continues to inspire, showing the world that bravery isn’t bound by gender, nor is the call to adventure something only men can answer.

Hannah’s life raises questions about identity, courage, and the limitations society tries to impose. In many ways, she was ahead of her time, challenging the strictures placed upon her by a society that had little room for a “female warrior.” Her decision to live as a man allowed her not only to escape a tragic personal life but to prove, in no uncertain terms, that a woman could match, if not exceed, her male counterparts in grit and determination.

Through her service, story, and sheer will to live on her terms, Hannah Snell remains a symbol of resilience. For those fascinated by history, her story resonates as a reminder that, sometimes, the most incredible feats are accomplished by the most unlikely of heroes.

Sources: Worcester News, BBC, British Forces Broadcasting Service, Hannah Snell: The Secret Life of a Female Marine, 1723-1792 by Matthew Stephens