Hannah Snell tried the life of a conventional woman, but in the 1740s, after being abandoned by her husband and losing her baby daughter, she decided to try a different approach. She put on her brother-in-law’s clothes, marched off to join the marines and fought for her country in India as James Grey.

On her return to London several years later, she revealed her identity with a flourish and told the world her story – becoming an instant celebrity in the process.