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Hedwig W. (on left) was a friend of German sexologist and researcher Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld . He lived as a (what we would now refer to as) transgender man in Berlin for two years using his chosen name. During this time period, the terms "transgender" and "transsexual" had not yet been coined. Dr. Hirschfeld had created the phrase "transvestite" in his 1910 book "Die Transvestiten" (Transvestites) "to describe persons who habitually and voluntarily wore clothes of the opposite sex." Hedwig W. and other crossdressing Germans would have very likely referred to themselves using this term. He is pictured here with an unnamed butch friend. Bibliography: Hirschfeld, Magnus. Die Transvestiten: eine Untersuchung über den erotischen Verkleidungstrieb : mit umfangreichem casuistischen und historischen Material . Pulvermacher, 1910. "Sexual Intermediates" (1922) by Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld -- unknown text, referenced in the image's original file upload to Wikimedia Commons. Last updated: December 30th, 2025

Teenager, Criminal Born: Estimated 1843 Died: approx. January, 1860 [CONTENT WARNING: contains topics relating to suicide] Transcription: ​ An extraordinary case of a girl concealing her sex for many years, has been brought to light in Peitiers, France. Augustine, alias Augustus Baudouin, a young person of 17, was known in the town and neighborhood as an active lad, and had been in place in respectable houses as "odd boy." This individual was lately tried for robbery, and while in prison, the authorities conceived some suspicions, and ascertained her to be a female. On being ask-ed what reason she had for wearing men's clothes, she said she had observed that men got their living easier than women; but she refused to give any information as to her birth and parentage. She was removed to the fe-male wards, but her repugnance to appear in women's attire among her fellow prisoners was so great, that she committed suicide by hang-ing herself on an iron bar with a pocket hand-kerchief. ​ From the Raftsman's Journal, Jan. 25, 1860. Courtesy of the Digital Transgender Archive. Last updated: December 30th, 2025.

Undated photos. No credible source either. Supposedly from the files of Magnus Hirschfeld but there's nothing to confirm this. Does not appear to be AI-generated.

Crosshatch portrait of Garland. From Female to Male- the life of Jack Bee Garland by acclaimed transsexual author Lou Sullivan chronicles the life and experience of Jack Bee Garland, an author, nurse, and adventurer who lived during the turn of the 20th century. Garland was known for having romantic and erotic relationships with other men, and Sullivan makes note of this, as during the time of the book's publishing, it was thought that FTM individuals only transition to satisfy their desire to achieve heterosexuality. Garland was also notable for fighting in the Philippine-American War. This biography by Sullivan is the quintessential look into Jack Bee Garland's life, as well as an early recorded example of a trans man explicitly having relationships with other men. Click on the PDF link below to download the file. Book Details Published: 1990 Author: Louis Sullivan Publisher: Alyson Books Pages: 183

Transcription/ID: A bright yellow poster from the Lesbian and Gay Community Center, address 208 West 13th street, NYC, NY 10011. Text: "The Gender Identity Project presents the 2nd annual Transexual Mens' Forum. An evening of sharing F-T-M issues and concerns, celebrating identity and diversity and building community. Speakers, networking, open mike sharing, resource information, refreshments. Open to all who identify as female-to-male, transexual/transgendered and their friends, allies, supporters and other interested community members. FRIDAY EVENING MARCH 18TH, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM, THE ALEXANDER ROOM AT THE CENTER No pre-registration required. $5.00 more/less donation appreciated. Courtesy of the Internet Archive. Uploaded to the Internet Archive in 2023. Last updated by the Trans Guy Archive on December 11th, 2025.

Politician, Bondsman Murray H. Hall (initially Mary Anderson) was born in 1841 in Govan, Scotland. In his time, he was known for being a bail bondsman and politician at Tammany Hall.  Hall reportedly began wearing masculine clothing and using the name of “John Anderson” at the age of sixteen and later immigrated to the United States of America in 1870 with his wife after his assigned sex at birth had been revealed to local law officials. Hall lived for the majority of his life as male – well over twenty-five years. In America, Hall had a reputation for engaging in traditionally “hard” masculine activities, e.g. drinking, smoking, playing poker, and even occasionally brawling with law enforcement.  While not much is known about Hall’s private life, he was married twice and had an active political career in Tammany Hall – the political organization in New York City well known for engaging in efficient but oftentimes corrupt solutions to political problems. Passing as a man, Hall was able to vote and work as a politician, rights that were denied to women at the time. He reportedly also ran a commercial “intelligence office.”, sometimes aided by his second wife. Hall had a reputation for being a “man about town, a bon vivant, and all-around ‘good fellow’.” He was also a member of the Iroquois Club and a personal friend of State Senator “Barney” Martin. Outside of politics and his career, Hall was married twice and adopted a child with his second wife. His last residence was an apartment in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City, about half a block north of the Jefferson Market Courthouse. According to a bookseller who frequently interacted with him, Hall was “well read… [and] a modest little man, but occasionally he showed an irascible temper. He would never talk about himself and shunned garrulous and inquisitive companions. In fact, when I met him on the street he was either accompanied by his black and tan dog or some woman or women, strangers to me, who I suppose were clients.” Later in life, Hall was diagnosed with a type of breast cancer, which would eventually lead to his death. Hall did not seek treatment for an extended time for fear that it would expose his sex. Hall would eventually pass away on January 16th, 1901 at the age of sixty. After his death, Hall’s daughter, Minnie, was involved in an inquest on how to properly distribute his will and properties. His daughter eventually won the case, and Hall’s headstone was erected next to his late wife’s.  After his death, news of Hall’s “gender transgression” spread quickly. Many were shocked that he had been assigned female at birth. News headlines broke such as “KNOWN AS A MAN FOR SIXTY YEARS, SHE DIED A WOMAN.” in the Evening World .   Most reports on Hall’s death continued to misgender but not deadname him. The New York Times’ article on Hall accused him of “masquerading” in male dress. Many outlets accused him of “tricking” people with how he presented. Despite this, Hall’s colleagues only had positive things to say about his character and memory. One senator described how Hall used to “hobnob with the big guns of the County Democracy" and said that he "cut quite some figure as a politician"; he also added that “[Hall] dressed like a man and talked like a very sensible one.” Another political colleague of Hall’s told the New York Times that “[Hall would] line up to the bar and take his whisky like any veteran, and didn’t make faces over it, either. If he was a woman he ought to have been born a man, for he lived and looked like one.” Hall was buried in women’s clothing in an unmarked grave in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in the Maspeth neighborhood of Queens, New York. Bibliography Kahler, Abbott. “The Mystery of Murray Hall.” Smithsonian Magazine, July 21, 2011. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-mystery-of-murray-hall-35612997/ .  “Man About Town: The Story of Murray Hall.” Episode. The Gilded Gentleman  no. 4, December 21, 2021. https://thegildedgentleman.com/episodes/the-story-of-murray-hall/ .  “Murray Hall (1840-1901).” museum-digital, August 21, 2021. https://global.museum-digital.org/people/274014 .  “MURRAY HALL FOOLED MANY SHREWD MEN.” The New York Times , January 19, 1901. https://nyti.ms/3MMimWc .  “Murray Hall Residence.” NYC LGBTQ Historic Sites Project, 2025. https://www.nyclgbtsites.org/site/murray-h-hall-residence/ .  “Murray Hall.” Transgender History Month. Accessed December 8, 2025. https://www.transgenderhistorymonth.com/tht/murray-hall .  Sharpe, Gillian. “Murray Hall: The New York Politician Who Broke 19th Century Gender Rules.” BBC , August 15, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-49291971 .  “WOMAN LONG POSED AS A MAN: Murray Hall Had Conducted an Employment Agency-Sex Revealed at Death.” The New York Times , January 18, 1901. https://nyti.ms/4rJqQ0t . Last updated: December 8th, 2025.

Head of the Burnham Novelty Company Born: approx. March 18th, 1840 Died: approx. April 30th, 1918 Transcription: HE, SHE, OR IT A Correct Account of the Mysterious Female Man Truth Stranger Than Fiction About the year 1856 there came to this village a family by the name of Burnham, consisting of Dr. M.L. Burnham, his wife, and two children, a daughter aged 16, and a son three or four years younger. Dr. Burnham was a man of some property and of the highest respectability. The family soon became active members of our village society, the doctor being an active member and one of the deacons of the Congregational church. Dr. Burnham was a well-read physician and did some practice in addition to keeping a drug store, in which his daughter, Ellen, assisted him as a clerk for the first two years of the doctor's residence here. Miss Ellen Burnham was by no means a beautiful girl. Her hair and eyes were dark; features regular, but rather coarse and masculine; form tall, square shouldered, and wanting in that grace of outline that inspires admiration. If a stranger were tempted to look at her the second time, it would be from surprise at the strong, masculine appearance unnatural to a woman, especially one so young. Miss Burnham was not a favorite with our young men, nor did she seem anxious to be. Her time, outside of her domestic duties, was devoted to instrumental music and horse-back riding, in both of which she was decidedly accomplished. Her life for the four years subsequent to 1856 were not unlike that of other young ladies of the place. She had a large class, mostly of young girls, instructed in instrumental music. In the fall of 1858, a young man by the name of Powell came here and was employed as principal of our village school. Powell resigned the leadership of the school in the spring of 1859, and started the Reporter, the first paper published in our village. During that summer he became intimate with the family of Dr. Burnham, and became engaged to Miss Burnham in the fall of 1859. The engagement soon became known outside of the family. The only surprise excited on account of it was surprise at the taste of Mr. Powell in selecting a girl of masculine appearance. Miss Burnham's parents seemed particularly pleased at the prospective marriage of their daughter, whom they believed well qualified to make a good wife for an editor. In February of 1860, L.W. Powell and Miss Ellen Burnham were married by Rev. Mr. Cochran, the Congregational minister. The happy couple took a short bridal tour, preparatory to settling down for life. After an absence of a week, they returned to the residence of the bride's parents, who, in honor of their daughter's marriage, sent out invitations to large numbers of our citizens to welcome the bride and groom. We were present at this wedding party, and could not but think that both the bride and groom appeared remarkably solemn. We did not kiss the bride, although that was the fashion. Our objection to the kissing part of the programme was a dislike to come in contact with an unusually heavy and black moustache which marred the upper lip of the bride. Mrs. Powell became more and more masculine in her appearance as she grew older. She took a case in the Reporter office, and learned the printer's trade rapidly. And in a short time she proved to be the best jour in the office. She also took to smoking, in the cultivation of which habit she proved herself a printer. In the spring of 1861, when Powell had been married about a year and a half, the 7th Wisconsin regiment was organized. Powell's wife not having presented him with an heir to make home doubly pleasant, he resolved to go to the wars. He sought, and, through the influence of friends, obtained, the appointment of state agent or "wet nurse" for the gallant 7th, then ordered to Washington. Mrs. Powell, being of a tough and hardy make, resolved to accompany her husband to the front. No objection being raised, she fitted herself out and went to Washington. The regiment was for a time detained at Washington, and Mrs. Powell made herself happy by working up that moral town. A few weeks after her arrival there, while she was riding on horseback one day, her masculine appearance attracted the attention of a government detective, who made up his mind that Mrs. Powell was a man and a rebel spy. The detective followed her about the city and to her quarters. He dogged her steps for several days until, just before the regiment was ordered off, Mrs. Powell took it into her head to return to Brodhead. She had packed up her rig, took leave of her husband and the regiment, and started for home. The detective accompanied her to Chicago on the same train, and at the Briggs house, where the lady booked her name, he placed her under arrest as a rebel in disguise. In vain she claimed to be a woman and the wife of a member of the 7th regiment. She called in the landlady, who asserted that she had seen Mrs. Powell at the house before. Mrs. Powell finally induced the detective to telegraph to Gov. Randall, of this state, and to her husband at Washington. Gov. Randall telegraphed back that there was such a lady. A second telegram arrived from Washington and the detective released her and returned to Washington. In a few days, Mr. Powell reached Chicago, and the unhappy couple made their way home to this village. Language cannot describe the feelings of this unhappy pair. Hardly over the first flush of connubial felicity, and the wife had become an object of suspicion to strangers, and was in constant danger of being arrested as a man. They remained here a few days, when Mrs. Powell informed her parents that she was going to visit some relations east. The fond parents, little dreaming of the arrest and subsequent scenes at the Briggs house, urged her to remain and replenish her wardrobe. She readily answered that she could procure more becoming and stylish garments in the east. After her departure, Mr. Powell procured some cloth and went to Mr. Mooney, one of our tailors, and informed him that he wished to present his brother with a suit of clothes. He informed the tailor that his garments fitted his brother, and a suit made to fit himself would be just the thing. The clothes were made and expressed to Chicago. Mr. Powell informed Dr. Burnham, the father of his wife, that Ellen had changed her dress, and was now wearing man's attire, and living at Chicago. The doctor was thunderstruck, the mother half crazy. The only satisfaction they could get out of Powell was, that his wife was not a woman and would no longer try to act the part of one. The doctor insisted upon an examination. At length, to satisfy her father, she consented that the late Dr. Brainard should examine her. Dr. Brainard did so, and informed the father that his daughter was not a female and had done the best thing to be done in changing her attire. After much solicitation, Ellen permitted her father to examine her and satisfy himself that she was not a woman. Dr. Burnham then procured a situation for her, under the name of Edgar Burnham, in the wholesale drug house of J. H. Reed & Co., in whose employ he remained about one year. During this time, he roomed and slept with a young man by the name of Andrews, now doing businiess in Crosby's Opera House block. He also became engaged to a young lady on State street, the daughter of his landlady. We frequently visited young Burnham at his room on Washington street, being ourselves at the time in the law offices of Meech & Redfield, the office being on Dearborn street. Young Burnham made up in appearance as a man of all the beauty and grace he lacked as a woman. Chicago had few better-looking young men than the former Mrs. Powell. He was a portion of this time organist at the Plymouth church, Rev. J.R. Shepherd, pastor, and for a time organist of one of the Baptist churches. We were particularly amused at his hearty admiration of the girls. He would leave his piano or work any time to look at a woman. In 1863, young Burnham returned to Brodhead, and went into the drug business with his father. He was at this time engaged to the State street lady, who was entirely ignorant of the story of her lover's life. We have it from the best authority --- a young man who resided in the family of the young lady --- that Burnham was a devoted lover, and, even after he removed to Brodhead, corresponded regularly twice a week with his betrothed, and paid visits of two or three days' duration. After his removal to Brodhead, he was a decided favorite in the society there, both on account of his good looks and his skill as a musician. Men, women and children flocked to the drug store of Burnham & Son to trade, for the sake of seeing the young man who was once a wife. At length Dr. Burnham sold out his property here in 1864 and removed to Waterloo, Iowa, taking Edgar with him, and there opened a drug store. Soon after the removal of family to Waterloo, Edgar sought and obtained in marriage the hand of Miss Gerta Everette, one of the brightest girls in Spring Valley, Rock County, Wis. The Chicago engagement had been broken off. They have now been married about three years and living at Waterloo. They have no children as yet, all stories to the contrary notwithstanding. Should they ever have children, or either of them, we shall make haste to inform our readers of the fact. It is simply ridiculous to suppose that Edgar Burnham was ever a mother, and quite as insane to believe that he can be a father. From the best of authority, namely from Mr. Powell and from the surgeon who examined him, we know that Edgar Burnham is a It, and will never be anything else. It is due to the young lady to whom he was engaged in Chicago to say that she never knew the make-up of her lover from first to last, and that the engagement was broken off by her before his history became known. Miss Everett, his present wife, knew the facts of his remarkable case, substantially as we have related them, and married It willingly of her own accord and against the wishes of her parents. She undoubtedly knows the facts more definitely now than we do and can comfort herself accordingly. We wish her joy of her union with an It if there is any joy in it. Transcription: A STRANGE STORY A VERY STRANGE ONE--THE STORY OF A MAN TRANSFORMED INTO A WOMAN. E.W. Burnham the name of the Subject of this Strange Transformation, Former-ly a "Charming Young Girl" of Minneapolis. The Des Moines Register says: "Many will remember the peculiar gentleman who visited this city some months ago with Burnhan's Electric Light Company. A gentleman with long hair, dark eyes, and long eye-lashes, and though effeminate in his facial appearance, was sufficiently masculine to [raise?] a heavy beard and look fairly to the masculine duties, attending the management of a [do-mestic?] company. This gentleman reg-istered as E.W. Burnham at the hotel where he was stopping, and with him was a young lady who was known by the troupe as his wife, a young, girlish looking, fairly good looking and al-truitive person. It will be remember-ed that Prof. Morgan Gibney and wife of this city, were with the company, and in a dramatic way were the life and strength of the company in the little [success?] it achieved. The Pro-fessor and Mrs. Gibney left the com-pany in Illinois several months ago. Now comes a peculiar story from St. Paul, which encompasses Burnham in a pale of [romance?], the like of which one does not often read about, unless the ecstatic Don Juan of [Byron?], which might be considered its near-est double in fiction. The St. Paul Pioneer Press of March 11th says it is a ridiculous and [alward?] story, and yet, perhaps, is worth publishing:" "The presence in the city of the Burnham Novelty Company recalls one of the most remarkable [histories?] known to many Minneapolis people by reason of one of the other actors in the strange domestic drama having for a period been a resident of that city. A good many people will recall Maj. W.L. Powell, who for a short time, along about 1878, was editor of the Tribune. Prior to this time Powell had led the life of a Bohemian, and in his travels went to Broadbend, Wis., where he met a charming young lady, [possessed?] of talent as a musician. Maj. Powell was then lecturing, and made a favorable impression both up-[?] the young lady and her parents, and the friendship for the girl ripen-ed into love and marriage. The young lady was about 19 years of age, had always been reared delicately by a family of the highest respectability. The father was a physician and drug-ist. Soon after her marriage to Maj. Powell a change began to take place: her complexion became swarthy and a beard began to grow, which demand-ed a received the [?] atten-tion of a razor. Other physical changes went on, and after the couple had been reasonably happily married for a period of nearly three years, de-spite the Major's dissolute habits, it became impossible to deny the fact that the girl was more [?] than woman. A visit was made to Chicago, an [?] physician...[text indecipherable]... The disclosure was extremely mortifying to the parents of the ex-wife, and they shortly after-ward removed to another place. The [?] individual availed himself of his prerogative and put away crinoline[?] and donned male [habits?] and commenced work in a drug story in Chicago under the name of E.W. Burnham, a change in the given name only being made to suit the change in sex. During the period young Burnham had lived as a woman the acquaintance had been focused[?] of another young woman also of musical predilections. The two "girls" were chums, even room-mates together, without suspicion of another condition being present. The regard then formed [ripened?] into love, and after a period had clasped the two women married, and have since lived happily together, [?] their home at Waterloo, Iowa. The husband and wife are none other than E.W. Burn-ham, the head of the Burnham Novel-ty Company, and Mrs. Gertie Everette Burnham, one of the members of the party. There is nothing in Mr. Burn-ham's appearance to indicate the strange history: and he is now thoroughly masculine in appearance, capa-ble of raising a heavy beard, though to meet the requirements of his busi-ness, he is cleanly shaven. The facts are all authenticated. Mr. Burnham is the nephew of a prominent citizen of Minneapolis is whose family he lived as a charming young girl for a considerable time, and is the subject of one of those freaks of nature which are rare, but undoubtedly occur. He is above the average in talent and ability, and has turned his taste for music in-to the organization which made its apperance at the Pence[?] Opera House last evening. Burnham takes no part in the per-formance of the company that bears his name other than to preside at the piano. Mrs. Burnham appears in the first part and in the drama with which their rather queer performance is concluded." Transcription: ​ A Man and husband has turned up in St. Paul who was once a woman and wife. He, she or it is now known as E.W. Burnham, the head of the Burnham Novelty company. When he, she or it (pronouns get badly mixed in this case) was a blooming girl of nineteen summers and a smooth face, she was married to Major Palmer, formerly editor of the Minneapolis  Tribune . After three hap-py years as a wife, a transformation came on. She shed her smoothness and a hirsute covering bearded her face.  She became a man, and as Palmer wanted a woman for his wife, a divorce ensued. Then she, who was now he, not relishing a bachelor's lonely life, married a lovely girl who is now his wife, and one of the members of his company. And so the old classic fable is revived in our neigh-boring city, and we have a he that was a she, and knows all about it. Wonder if he has any special skill in managing his wife, or if he can dodge with more success than those who were always males, when she wants a new dress or a new hat? ​ From the Duluth News-Tribune, Mar. 17, 1882. Courtesy of the Digital Transgender Archive. Transcription: ​ A Strange Metamorphosis ​ A remarkable phenomenon is related by the Dubuque(?)   Times . Major Powell*, for-merly editor of the Minneapolis  Tribune , some ten years ago married an accom-plished young lady in Broadhead, Wis. Soon after the marriage a change in the wife began to take place: her complexion became swarthy and a beard began to grow, which demanded and received the assiduous attention of a razor. Other physical changes went on, and after the couple had been reasonably happily mar-ied for a period of nearly three years, it became impossible to deny the fact that the girl was more man than woman. A visit was made to Chicago, an eminent physician was consulted, who confirmed the suspicion, and the major and his wife separated, there being no matrimonial pre-vision to bind two males together. The metamorphosized individual availed him-self of his prerogative, put away crinoline and donned male habliments, and com-menced work at a drug store in Chicago under the name of E.W. Burnham a change in the given name only being given to suit the change in sex. During the period young Burnham had lived as a woman, the acquaintance had been formed of another young woman, which acquaint-ance was renewed, and in course of time they were married. This couple are now traveling through the west with a dramatic company known as the Burnham Novelty Company. These facts, says the Dubuque(?)   Times , are well authenticated. Mr. Burnham is the nephew of a prominent citizen of Minneapolis, in whose family he lived as a charming young girl for con-siderable time, and is the subject of one of those curious freaks of nature, which are rare, but undoubtedly occur. ​ From the Dubuque(?) Times, Mar. 28, 1882. Courtesy of the Digital Transgender Archive. ​ *Burnham's ex-husband appears to have a different name in this second article clipping than in the first (Palmer vs Powell) Last updated: December 7th, 2025.

Farm Hand Born: Unknown Died: approx. February, 1892 Transcription: ​ At the death of "Henry" Arm-strong, a farm hand, a Juno, Tenn., it was discovered that he was a wo-man, who for twenty-five years had concealed her sex, posing as a man, whereas she had been a mother. ​ From the The St. Johns Herald, Feb. 11, 1892. Courtesy of the Digital Transgender Archive. Last updated: December 6th, 2025.

Soldier Born: Unknown Died: Unknown Transcription: ​ A Colored Fille du Regiment. ​ The Providence Journal relates that last May, while the 12th Rhode Island regiment was at Lancaster, Ky., a chubby young Anglo-African, asnwering to the name of "Tommy," came into camp, desiring to en-ter the service of one of Uncle Sam's offi-cers, a nd was taken by one of the captains of the 12th as a body servant. In that ca-pacity "Tommy" accompanied the regi-ment in its marches, and on its return to Providence, winning many pleasant words for good behavior. When the regiment was dismissed "Tommy" went to live with the Lieutenant. There the refinements were to much for "Tommy," and the cap-tains body servant proved to be a veritable daughter of the regiment, a girl of less than twenty summers, who had been able to conceal her sex in the huise of a boy that the captain, at whose feet she had slept, had no suspicion that he was harbor-ing a sable "woman and sister," determin-ed on achieving liberty at even the expense of a temporary renounciation of red band-annss and calico. The officers no reccol-lect that "Tommy" wouldn't ride horse-back, and declined the most tempting prop-osition to go a swimming. She has been properly provided for. ​ From the Cleveland Morning Leader, Sep. 11, 1863. Courtesy of the Digital Transgender Archive. Last updated: December 6th, 2025. Transcribed/Edited by Aidrian.

Baron, Doctor Born: September 6th, 1912 Died: September 12th, 1991 Ewan, with dog. Sir Ewan Forbes-Sempill, 11th Baronet was born in Scotland  on September 6th, 1912 to John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill and Gwendolyn Prodger. Sir Ewan Forbes-Sempill, who identified as a trans man, is most well known for being involved in a lengthy custody battle over the estate of his late father. His case in the British legal system helped to determine the precedent on whether a person’s legal sex was a determining factor in male primogeniture (succession). Initially born as Elizabeth Forbes-Sempill, Ewan would later contend that his birth registration as female was considered a “ghastly mistake”. His mother nicknamed him “Benjie”, and the nickname continued to be used into Forbes-Sempill’s adult life. According to his book, The Aul’ Days, Forbes-Sempill frequently dressed as a boy and spent a large time playing with his male cousins. Forbes-Sempill similarly recalled a hatred of being “made to dress up [in women’s clothing” for social events and engagements. ​ Forbes-Sempill was given an educated upbringing and was able to speak and write fluently in Doric as well as various European languages. He also refused to attend an all-girls school. As he grew, Forbes-Sempill studied in Dresden while visiting cities such as Prague and Vienna, which allowed him access to various gender-affirming treatments. His parents seemed to have a fairly lax view on his gender – his mother in particular was quite progressive for the time period. She would often take him to various European medical specialists for gender-affirming treatments such as testosterone shots. Though, he was still expected to dress in feminine clothing and appear as a female debutante even after the emergence of facial hair. ​ In 1939, Forbes-Sempill was accepted into the University of Aberdeen as a medical student. He would later graduate in 1944 and take up a post in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as a Junior Casualty Officer, swiftly being promoted to Senior Casualty Officer not long after. He would begin to work as a general practitioner in Aberdeenshire in 1945.  ​ After moving to Aberdeenshire, Forbes-Sempill continued to publicly present himself as a man in his daily life. In 1952, he legally and formally became male by requesting a warrant for birth re-registration and changed his name to Ewan. He announced this change with a short notice in the Aberdeen Press and Journal in September 12th, 1952: “Dr E. Forbes-Sempill henceforth wishes to be known as Dr Ewan Forbes-Sempill”. He was reportedly very candid with the curious press. He described his situation as, “a ghastly mistake. I was carelessly registered as a girl in the first place, but of course, that was forty years ago ... the doctors in those days were mistaken, too ... I have been sacrificed to prudery, and the horror which our parents had about sex.” ​ He would marry Isabella Mitchell, his housekeeper for the last five years, on October 10th, 1952. The union took place at the kirk in Kildrummy, where he had recently joined. ​ Until 1965, the issue of Forbes-Sempill’s legal gender remained relatively under the radar. In December of 1965, his elder brother died, leaving daughters but no sons. Scotland followed a law of primogeniture – only male sons were allowed to inherit their father’s property and lands. The Times cited that the heir for the baronetcy should be the Hon. Ewan Forbes-Sempill, but this was challenged by Forbes-Sempill’s cousin, John Forbes-Sempill, arguing that Ewan was legally still a woman, and thus the title should pass to John and not Ewan. ​ For some context, there were times in which gender re-registration was allowed in legal cases. Typically, it was in the case that “the sex of a child was indeterminate at birth and it was later discovered ... that an error had been made”. The judge who preceded over the case determined that “as a matter of probability, the second petitioner [Ewan Forbes-Sempill] is a ... hermaphrodite,” though experts at the time observed that they believed Forbes-Sempill’s condition was closer to that of a ‘standard’ female-to-male transsexual, or a trans man. In any case, John Forbes-Sempill challenged the ruling, which led the case to be referred to the Home Secretary, James Callaghan, who was the individual responsible for the Roll of Baronetage. It was finally declared in December of 1968 that Ewan Forbes-Sempill would be entered into the Roll as the rightful heir and holder of the title.  ​ Forbes-Sempill’s case was kept under a great deal of secrecy for the time. The records of the case were not made available in Scotland under 1991, with additional documents being made available to the public in 1994. Further release of Forbes-Sempill’s records are limited and were restricted from being publicly documented until 2021. ​ After taking the baronetcy, Forbes-Sempill would then drop the “Sempill” from his surname. Once he had the inheritance case officially settled, Ewan would then leave the public eye and return to his rural residence at Brux, Scotland. Forbes was an elder at the kirk in Kildrummy and was later appointed a Justice of the Peace in Aberdeenshire in 1969. In 1984, he published a book on his early years, titled The Aul’ Days. ​ Forbes passed away on September 12th, 1991 and left no children. He was succeeded in his baronetcy by his cousin John – the one who had challenged him back in the 1960s. Ewan’s wife, Isabella, wouldn’t pass away until 2002. Gallery Bibliography Barnes, Lesley-Anne (2007). "Gender Identity and Scottish Law: The Legal Response to Transsexuality". Edinburgh Law Review. 11 (2): 162–186. doi:10.3366/elr.2007.11.2.162  ​ Forbes, Ewan. The Aul’ Days. The Internet Archive. Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1984 . https://archive.org/details/auldaysforb00forb/mode/2up .  ​ “Isabella, Lady Forbes.” The Telegraph. March 2, 2002. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1386476/Isabella-Lady-Forbes.html .  ​ Merritt, Stephanie. “The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes by Zoë Playdon Review – a Fascinating Transgender Life.” The Guardian, December 26, 2021 . https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/26/the-hidden-case-of-ewan-forbes-by-zoe-playdon-review-a-fascinating-transgender-life .  ​ Playdon, Zoë. The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes: And the Unwritten History of the Trans Experience. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021.  Last updated: December 6th, 2025. Edited by Aidrian.