Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben during the American Revolution; German immigrant, father of the US Army, savior of the Continental Army, and a gay man
Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben during the American Revolution; German immigrant, father of the US Army, savior of the Continental Army, and a gay man
Wikipedia:
Von Steuben is believed by some historians to have been openly homosexual by 18th century standards.
I just can’t imagine what that means. Did he powder his wig slightly more? He held a man’a gaze for more than a second? What were the 18th century signals?
Never marrying or having known love affairs with women, serving the king of Prussia who everyone knew was gay and let homosexuality flourish in his court, fleeing Europe on sodomy charges, arriving in America with your gay lover/secretary, inviting American officers to dine with you naked, and then 'adopting' two strapping young officers who you grew 'very close' to during the campaign and 'love tenderly', retiring to a country estate with them, and leaving them most of your worldly possessions when you die.