Vicious and Immoral: Homosexuality, the American Revolution, and the Trials of Robert Newburgh

by John Gilbert McCurdy

The fascinating story of a British army chaplain's buggery trial in 1774 reveals surprising truths about early America.

On the eve of the American Revolution, the British army considered the case of a chaplain, Robert Newburgh, who had been accused of having sex with a man. Newburgh's enemies cited his flamboyant appearance, defiance of military authority, and seduction of soldiers as proof of his low character. Consumed by fears that the British Empire would soon be torn asunder, his opponents claimed that these supposed crimes against nature translated to crimes against the king.

In Vicious and Immoral, historian John McCurdy tells this compelling story of male intimacy and provides an unparalleled glimpse inside eighteenth-century perceptions of queerness. By demanding to have his case heard, Newburgh invoked Enlightenment ideals of equality, arguing passionately that his style of dress and manner should not affect his place in the army or society. His accusers equated queer behavior with rebellion, and his defenders would go on to join the American cause. Newburgh's trial offers some clues to understanding a peculiarity of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth while gay acts were prohibited by law in much of the British empire, the newly formed United States was comparatively uninterested in legislating against same-sex intimacy.

McCurdy imagines what life was like for a gay man in early America and captures the voices of those who loved and hated Newburgh, revealing how sexuality and revolution informed one another. Vicious and Immoral is the first book to place homosexuality in conversation with the American Revolution, and it dares us to rethink the place of LGBTQ people in the founding of the nation.

Genres: History, LGBT, Nonfiction, American Revolution, Audiobook, 18th Century, American History

1 pages, Audio CD

Published June 18, 2024

Reviews

[Mattia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before the Reverend Mr. Robert Newburgh even joined the army, an officer in his future unit spread a rumour, started by servants, that Robert Newburgh had shared a bed with his foster brother and servant and that he was a buggerer. This rumour followed Robert Newburgh into the 18th Regiment of the Royal Irish Regiment of Foot. A frequently-violent fellow officer called him a buggerer, and Robert Newburgh was repeatedly court-martialed for minor offences because his colourful dress and reputation as a buggerer made other officers see him as rebellious against authority and against the king. Robert Newburgh and other members of the 18th Regiment also charged other officers with various offences and they were court-martialed. I think it was a very troubled and toxic workplace, and Robert Newburgh was being bullied at work by most of his fellow officer because of his clothing and a rumour about him. His few supporters left the service.

Such minor offences as having a green jacket made for him by an army tailor and wearing light-coloured lambskin breeches while riding instead of black (seen as more appropriate for a parson) were used against him in his court-martials, as evidence that he was a buggerer and unfit for service. Robert Newburgh always maintained that he had not had sex with men and his clothing said nothing about his character, but his fellow officers in the 18th Regiment saw him as being unfit for service because of what his reputation said about his character. There is no evidence that Robert Newburgh was a homosexual or that he had sex with men, but he was treated as though he did.

I think the author's final sentence that "at it's creation, the United States inherently included a place for LGBTQ+ people" is stretching it a bit too far because I don't agree that that's what the founding fathers or most Americans wanted at the time, but I agree that Americans were less concerned with prosecuting men for homosexual acts than the British were. However, sex between men was still a capital crime in most American states and was still prosecuted. I think there's a parallel between the 18th century attitudes towards men seen as homosexual described in this book and the 20th century view of homosexuals as traitors to the state. It's the same attitude and the same military, just with different details. This book describes an interesting time in American history, and I enjoyed it.

[Katie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1773, Robert Newburgh landed in America, ready to be the new chaplain for the Eighteenth Regiment, the "Royal Irish". However, his reputation preceded him -- there was a rumor going around that the new chaplain was a "buggerer" who had slept with his manservant. The Eighteenth was already divided and toxic; their commander had recently fled after accusations of using his office for personal gain, leaving behind divisions between his attackers and supporters, and the rebellion brewing in the Colonies threatened to infect the Army as well. The situation was a powder keg already, and when Newburgh arrived - a man with a reputation, who dressed more colorfully & fashionably than most religious men - the stage was set.

This is a really interesting book. 1774 in the Colonies was an intense time, and the various investigations, lawsuits, and court-martials that spiralled out of Newburgh's arrival are all set against this backdrop. I hadn’t read about this case before but McCurdy did an excellent job of both telling the story and setting it in its broader historical context.

[Stefan S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately interesting topic of a accused homosexual in the British army at the time of the American revolution. However, it was too detailed to be interesting, and felt like it was based off of a limited set of primary data given the lack of historical record, then repeated continuously throughout the book. I think I would've been more interested in a magazine article about this topic rather than 300 pages.

[Josephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and well-researched, but the focuses more on military court proceedings than attitudes towards homosexuality. DNF at 40%. For someone more interested in colonial judicial history than me.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCurdy provides a well sourced review of the trial of a British chaplain accused of immoral conduct in 1774.

[Brian Bixby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This past summer I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. McCurdy discuss his book at an event in Philadelphia blocks from where the book takes place. I finally read the copy I obtained that evening and wasn't disappointed. Very detailed and well researched. May appeal more to those interested in history of the revolutionary period. Beautifully footnoted. Look forward to reading Dr. McCurdy's other works.