Lightboxes
Cart
alb5412187

Chevalier D'Eon, French Diplomat and Spy

Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont (October 5 1728 - May 21, 1810), usually known as the Chevalier d'Éon, was a French diplomat, spy, freemason and soldier who fought in the Seven Years' War. D'Éon had androgynous physical characteristics and natural abilities as a mimic, good features for a spy. D'Éon appeared publicly as a man and pursued masculine occupations for 49 years, although during that time d'Éon successfully infiltrated the court of Empress Elizabeth of Russia by presenting as a woman. For 33 years, from 1777, d'Éon dressed as a woman, identifying as female. In 1804, d'Éon was sent to a debtors' prison for five months, and signed a contract for a biography to be written by Thomas William Plummer, which was never published. D'Éon became paralyzed following a fall, and spent a final four years bedridden, dying in poverty in 1810 at the age of 81. Doctors who examined his body after death discovered "male organs in every respect perfectly formed", but also feminine characteristics.
Share
pinterestPinterest
twitterTwitter
facebookFacebook
emailEmail

Add to another lightbox

Add to another lightbox
add to lightbox print share
Do you already have an account? Sign in
You do not have an account? Register
Buy this image. Select the use:
Loading...
Title:
Chevalier D'Eon, French Diplomat and Spy
Caption:
Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont (October 5 1728 - May 21, 1810), usually known as the Chevalier d'Éon, was a French diplomat, spy, freemason and soldier who fought in the Seven Years' War. D'Éon had androgynous physical characteristics and natural abilities as a mimic, good features for a spy. D'Éon appeared publicly as a man and pursued masculine occupations for 49 years, although during that time d'Éon successfully infiltrated the court of Empress Elizabeth of Russia by presenting as a woman. For 33 years, from 1777, d'Éon dressed as a woman, identifying as female. In 1804, d'Éon was sent to a debtors' prison for five months, and signed a contract for a biography to be written by Thomas William Plummer, which was never published. D'Éon became paralyzed following a fall, and spent a final four years bedridden, dying in poverty in 1810 at the age of 81. Doctors who examined his body after death discovered "male organs in every respect perfectly formed", but also feminine characteristics.
Personalities:
Credit:
Album / Science Source
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?
Image size:
3210 x 4350 px | 39.9 MB
Print size:
27.2 x 36.8 cm | 10.7 x 14.5 in (300 dpi)
Keywords: