Hannah Snell, The Female Soldier, 1750 (c)

Engraving by G Scott, published by R S Kirby, 30 August 1804.

Hannah Snell was born at Worcester in 1723. In male clothing, under the name of James Gray, she is said to have enlisted in General Guise's Regiment and later joined the Royal Marines at Portsmouth. Snell served in India with the expedition to capture the French colony of Pondicherry and later saw action at the Battle of Devicotta in June 1749.