Sampson, Deborah (1760-1827), served in the Revolutionary War in America disguised as a man. In May 1782, she enlisted in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment of the American army as Robert Shurtleff. Sampson fought in several battles and was wounded at least twice. She hid a leg wound so doctors would not discover she was a woman. About June 1783, Sampson was hospitalized in Philadelphia because of a high fever, and her identity was discovered. General George Washington ordered that she be given an honorable discharge.
Deborah Sampson was born on Dec. 17, 1760, in Plympton, Massachusetts. Before enlisting, she had been a teacher. A book about her army experiences, The Female Review, was published in 1797. In 1805, the United States Congress awarded her a pension because of her military service and wounds. She died on April 29, 1827.
