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The Female Husband
The female husband: or, the surprising history of Mrs. Mary, alias Mr George Hamilton, who was convicted of having married a young woman of Wells and from her own mouth since her confinement.
As opposed to the middle-class Richardson, Fielding came of a genteel family and enjoyed an excellent education. He was born April 22, 1707, at Sharpham Park in Somerset, and was related to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and the Earl of Denbigh. In April, 1718, Henry's mother died and his father, Colonel Edmund Fielding, went away to London, leaving the children in the care of his in-laws, the Gould family. A year later Colonel Fielding married an Italian widow and attempted to regain custody of his children from his mother-in-law, Lady Gould. This led to a lengthy law-suit which was finally settled in 1722, granting Lady Gould the custody of her grandchildren and securing their mother's estate for Henry and his sisters.
After attending Eton, Fielding courted a young heiress, Miss Sarah Andrew of Lyme Regis, but failed to persuade her to elope with him. In 1727, his family lost much of their money through the dishonesty of a broker, and the young Fielding found himself in need of an income. Drama was the most lucrative genre of the time, and Fielding took advantage of his London connections, particularly Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, to gain an introduction to theater circles there. His first play, Love in Several Masques, was produced in 1728 at the Drury Lane Theater and published the same year. Despite this promising beginning, however, less than a month later Fielding enrolled at Leyden University, where he was entered in the faculty of letters.
As opposed to the middle-class Richardson, Fielding came of a genteel family and enjoyed an excellent education. He was born April 22, 1707, at Sharpham Park in Somerset, and was related to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and the Earl of Denbigh. In April, 1718, Henry's mother died and his father, Colonel Edmund Fielding, went away to London, leaving the children in the care of his in-laws, the Gould family. A year later Colonel Fielding married an Italian widow and attempted to regain custody of his children from his mother-in-law, Lady Gould. This led to a lengthy law-suit which was finally settled in 1722, granting Lady Gould the custody of her grandchildren and securing their mother's estate for Henry and his sisters.
After attending Eton, Fielding courted a young heiress, Miss Sarah Andrew of Lyme Regis, but failed to persuade her to elope with him. In 1727, his family lost much of their money through the dishonesty of a broker, and the young Fielding found himself in need of an income. Drama was the most lucrative genre of the time, and Fielding took advantage of his London connections, particularly Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, to gain an introduction to theater circles there. His first play, Love in Several Masques, was produced in 1728 at the Drury Lane Theater and published the same year. Despite this promising beginning, however, less than a month later Fielding enrolled at Leyden University, where he was entered in the faculty of letters.
90 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1746
About the author
Henry Fielding
2,531 books391 followersHenry Fielding (1707 - 1754) was an English dramatist, journalist and novelist. The son of an army lieutenant and a judge's daughter, he was educated at Eton School and the University of Leiden before returning to England where he wrote a series of farces, operas and light comedies.
Fielding formed his own company and was running the Little Theatre, Haymarket, when one of his satirical plays began to upset the government. The passing of the Theatrical Licensing Act in 1737 effectively ended Fielding's career as a playwright.
In 1739, Fielding turned to journalism and became editor of The Champion. He also began writing novels, including: The Adventures of Joseph Andrews (1742) and Jonathan Wild (1743).
Fielding was made a justice of the peace for Westminster and Middlesex in 1748. He campaigned against legal corruption and helped his half-brother, Sir John Fielding, establish the Bow Street Runners.
In 1749, Fielding's novel The History of Tom Jones was published to public acclaim. Critics agree that it is one of the greatest comic novels in the English language. He followed this success with another well received novel, Amelia, in 1751.
Fielding continued as a journalist and his satirical journal, Covent Garden, continued to upset those in power. Throughout his life, Fielding suffered from poor health. By 1752, he could not move without the help of crutches. In an attempt to overcome his health problems, Henry Fielding went to live in Portugal, but this was not successful, and he died in Lisbon in 1754.
Fielding formed his own company and was running the Little Theatre, Haymarket, when one of his satirical plays began to upset the government. The passing of the Theatrical Licensing Act in 1737 effectively ended Fielding's career as a playwright.
In 1739, Fielding turned to journalism and became editor of The Champion. He also began writing novels, including: The Adventures of Joseph Andrews (1742) and Jonathan Wild (1743).
Fielding was made a justice of the peace for Westminster and Middlesex in 1748. He campaigned against legal corruption and helped his half-brother, Sir John Fielding, establish the Bow Street Runners.
In 1749, Fielding's novel The History of Tom Jones was published to public acclaim. Critics agree that it is one of the greatest comic novels in the English language. He followed this success with another well received novel, Amelia, in 1751.
Fielding continued as a journalist and his satirical journal, Covent Garden, continued to upset those in power. Throughout his life, Fielding suffered from poor health. By 1752, he could not move without the help of crutches. In an attempt to overcome his health problems, Henry Fielding went to live in Portugal, but this was not successful, and he died in Lisbon in 1754.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 20, 2024
It’s a propaganda piece from the 1700’s that’s supposed to scare people into not being trans. It’s based on the true story of Charles Hamilton, but is grossly written and I sincerely hated reading it. The only reason I give it a star at all is because it was somewhat insightful and helpful for an essay, and the only reason I’m marking it as read is because I want to finish my reading challenge. I don’t recommend unless you’re studying 18th century queer literature and even then, you can definitely do better.
October 18, 2017
What the actual FUCK did I read ?!? 😐😐😐
The story of a lesbian fraud galavanting around the country seducing innocent women and old wives for want of "unnatural human desires" , narrated by a highly misogynistic, anti-feminist elitist.
Not for me. Not for anybody. This piece should never have been preserved.
The story of a lesbian fraud galavanting around the country seducing innocent women and old wives for want of "unnatural human desires" , narrated by a highly misogynistic, anti-feminist elitist.
Not for me. Not for anybody. This piece should never have been preserved.
March 22, 2023
my queer eighteenth century course is the gift that keeps on giving
Read
March 24, 2023If i could go back in time and get into a fistfight with Henry Fielding I would and I know I would win
February 6, 2026
this title reminds me of a lana del rey song
March 6, 2025
Evil sapphic woman seduces good Christian women, and this is supposed to scare people out of being gay/trans. The real story of one Mr. Charles Hamilton (history isn't sure if they were a trans man or a sapphic woman), in which they were flogged publicly with their breasts exposed for being married to a woman for three months, is converted into a sensationalized work of fiction in which they are a predator. Two stars instead of one because of how hilarious Fielding's writing can be in this piece--he skirts around Hamilton's possession of a dildo and lack of a penis by claiming that he wont mention them, but making it very obvious that that's what he's talking about. Overall, it's very funny as an ardent defense of heterosexuality, as I suspect it is intended to be
May 9, 2025
those mormons
October 21, 2025
Read for queer lit! I thought the story was silly, Fielding was stupid, and Hamilton was an interesting character.
February 10, 2026
erm wow what an interesting transphobic piece!
February 11, 2026
You know, I was enjoying this semester's reading list for my English degree. But some man always has to ruin my day.
Read
March 6, 2026fielding really said source trust me bro
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September 21, 2022
This was an interesting read documenting how a woman who was a lesbian would disguise herself as a man and married another women. It read almost as a report documenting the incident and the aftermath.
August 2, 2015
The earliest true life transgender story.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews