BIBFRAME Work

Title

Vicious and immoral

Type

  • Monograph
  • Text

Contribution

Subject

Language

Illustrative Content

Classification

  • SOC032000
  • HIS036030
  • LCC: HQ76.3.U5 M39 2024 (Assigner: dlc) (Status: used by assigner)
  • DDC: 306.76/6097309033 (Assigner: dlc)

Content

Supplementary content

Summary

  • "This work is the first book to center homosexuality in the American Revolution through its exploration of the 1774 court martial of Robert Newburgh"-- Provided by publisher.
  • "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 century: 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"-- Provided by publisher.

Table of Contents

Prologue: The parson is a buggerer -- A native of Ireland -- The happy state of the royal Irish -- Mr. Newburgh would cruise up his gut -- A man of infamous character -- Assisted privately by some miscreant -- A patriotick American -- The advocate of an injured man -- What is now termed a maccaroni -- Nil humanum a me alienum puto -- Many circumstances have happened -- Epilogue: I imagined all those old prejudices were exploded.

Authorized Access Point

McCurdy, John Gilbert, 1972-. Vicious and immoral

Geographic Coverage

Admin Metadata

  • Date: 2026-09-11T20:18:18.996484+00:00
  • Agent: cbc
  • Status: c
  • Derived from: 23301958

Admin Metadata

  • Date: 2026-09-11
  • Cataloger id: Unknown
  • Description level: http://id.loc.gov/ontologies/bibframe-2-6-0/
  • Description language: eng
  • Description authentication: pcc

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