page_title: The Female Marine
section_title: Historical context
hierarchical_section_title: The Female Marine / Historical context
caption_attribution_description: English: Onlie PDF of The Female Marine
context_page_description: The Female Marine, or The Adventures of Lucy Brewer, was first published in 1815 as a series of pamphlets sold in Boston. The series is the supposedly autobiographical account of Lucy Brewer, although controversy has surrounded the true authorship of the story as some believe it was in fact written by Nathaniel Hill Wright.
context_section_description: The Female Marine was first published in 1815, directly after the conclusion of the War of 1812, and features an autobiographical account of many famous events during the war.  The War of 1812 had a large impact on Boston, the setting of the story, as the Atlantic Theatre of the war was fought over Britain's trade restrictions due to its ongoing war with France as well as the impressment of American merchant sailors into the Royal navy.  During the war, heavy blockades were set up around port cities like Boston, and exports suffered heavily, making the war very unpopular to merchants in these cities.  However, there was still cause for a strong sense of patriotism during the time, which Wright would exploit in his writing of The Female Marine.  During the War of 1812, the American Navy achieved their first naval victory against the British fleet with the USS Constitution. The Constitution was built to protect the ports of Boston, and became a potent symbol of national military prowess.  After a battle with the British warship Guirriere, the public affectionately dubbed the Constitution, “Old Ironsides”, firmly establishing her popularity in the eyes of the people.  Her popularity has continued through today, as the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel.  Wright chose the Constitution as the ship Brewer would hide herself aboard as it was one of the most famous ships and most patriotic symbols of the country at the time.
caption: First Publication Cover (1815)
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