3 historical figures who were transgender

It is known about a considerable number of historical figures that they preferred people of the same sex. As a rule, it is easy to determine, the situation with gender identity is much more complicated. Sometimes it is impossible to say for sure whether a person considered himself a person of the other sex or just liked to dress up.

A nobleman, a secret agent and an excellent swordsman spent the first half of his life as a man, and lived the second half under a female guise. It is noteworthy that his real gender has remained a mystery.

The French nobleman was born in 1728 in the family of a lawyer. In his diary entries d’Eon admits that, although he was always dressed as a boy, in fact he was a girl - his parents did this ostensibly so that they could pass on his inheritance.

The condition of the will was such that only the boy could get the money. He graduated with honors from a Paris college and got a job as a clerk, but after seven years d’Eon was recruited by a secret network of French diplomats — the "Royal Secret".

Life d’Eona was bright: he went on errands in Russia, tried to gain the confidence of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, trying to upset the Russian-Austrian alliance, allegedly took out of St. Petersburg secret testament of Peter I. According to one version, it is in St. Petersburg d’Eon changed from a man's dress to a woman's.

After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna d’Eon was recalled back to France. He took part in the last battles of the Seven Years' War, was wounded and received the Order of St. Louis for bravery.

In the end, d'Eon was forced to recognize himself as a woman. Ten years later d’Eon demanded to be officially recognized as a woman and allowed to wear a woman's dress. From then until the end of his life he was called Mademoiselle de Beaumont.

But even in old age, Mademoiselle de Beaumont was eager to return to military service.

Mademoiselle spent her last years in poverty, and she died in London, she was 81 years old. The doctor who examined her body concluded that it still belongs to a man:

Born under the name Jenny Irene Hodgers in Ireland, circa 1843. It is still unknown for what reason Jenny moved to the USA, taking the male name Albert. Later, Jenny claimed that her stepfather dressed her in men's clothes to make it easier for her to find a job. Whether this is true or not is a mystery. Thus Albert Cachier was born.

In 1862, President Lincoln began to recruit an army — the need for soldiers grew every day. Soon the name of Albert Kashye (19 years old, a farmer from New York). Albert participated in about forty battles, including the siege of Vicksburg. This campaign became the most dangerous for Albert-Jenny, because during a reconnaissance operation he was captured. Nevertheless, Albert managed to escape.

Cachier was at war until 1865, dismissed from service with glowing reviews. After the war, Albert returned to Illinois and continued to live under a male guise for the rest of his days.

For forty years Albert worked as a church porter, cemetery worker and lamplighter. Thanks to the disguise, Albert could vote, and later received a pension due to veterans.

In 1911, Albert was hit by a car, breaking his leg. The doctor revealed the veteran's secret, but agreed to keep all the information a secret. In the end, Albert was forced to settle in a veterans' home in Illinois — there he was often visited by former colleagues.

Albert died in 1915, the tombstone reads: "Albert D. J. Kashye", he was buried with all honors in a military uniform.

Nadezhda Durova was born in September 1783 in the Udmurt city of Sarapul. Her mother hated the girl from childhood and once almost threw her out of the carriage window, but the baby miraculously survived. In vain the mother tried to teach her daughter needlework and other "feminine pursuits". Nadezhda wanted to ride a horse through the fields, and the fate of women seemed dull and boring to her.

At the age of 18, Nadia was married to a court assessor Vasily Chernov, and a year later she gave birth to a son Ivan. By an evil irony of fate, Nadia disliked the boy as much as her mother, because she wanted a free military life. According to another version, her love for the Cossack yesaul pushed her to escape.

Nadezhda went to look for a suitable regiment where she could serve. There was only one problem - Nadia didn't have a beard. And since all the Cossacks wore beards, Nadezhda was forced to join the cavalry Cavalry-Polish Uhlan Regiment, where beards were not worn. Nadia introduced herself as Alexander Sokolov, the son of a landowner. So she became an ordinary Alexander.

War was her element. Participating in the battles of the Napoleonic Wars, Nadezhda never wavered and was not afraid. For rescuing a wounded officer in the midst of the battle, Alexander was awarded the soldier's St. George Cross and promoted to non-commissioned officer.

Nadezhda had many exploits in her life: she participated in the Battle of Borodino, commanded a half-squadron in During the Patriotic War of 1812 and even served as an orderly at Kutuzov, who knew the truth. In one of the battles, a ball flew into Nadezhda's leg, she was concussed.

At the age of 33, yielding to the persuasions of her father, Nadezhda resigned and settled back in her native lands. Until the end of his days, Nadezhda remained Alexander. She signed all the letters exclusively with a male surname. Her only companions at the end of her life were cats and dogs.

Nadezhda hated being called by a woman's name. Even when her own son called her "mama" in a letter, Nadezhda threw the letter into the fire in a rage. She answered only when in the next message her son addressed her as "Alexander Andreevich". Nadezhda died a very old woman and before her death she asked to be buried as "the servant of God Alexander". But the priest did not dare to go against the traditions.