In late 1747, the young Worcester born Hannah Snell dressed herself in men's clothes and enlisted with the Marines at Portsmouth. Under the name of James Gray, she sailed to India as part of a large expedition sent to capture the French occupied town of Pondicherry. While in the East, Snell fought in two sieges and claims to have received many injuries, including a bullet wound to her groin. Despite these injuries and her close proximity to her shipmates, she says she concealed her true sex until her return to England in early 1750. Eager to profit from her adventures, Snell immediately sold her story to the London publisher, Robert Walker. Her appearance on stage in uniform caused a sensation and news of her adventures quickly spread across the country. In November 1750, the Royal Chelsea Hospital officially recognised Snell's military service and granted her a lifetime pension. She lived for another 40 years, marrying twice and raising two boys. In 1791, Snell was admitted to the notorious Bedlam lunatic asylum, where she died six months later.