Discover the Unstoppable: Top 15 Fascinating and Fun Facts about Revolutionary War Heroine Margaret Corbin

1. Arcade Games and Arm Wrestling Enthusiast

Before she captured our hearts as a fierce female cannon-firer, Margaret "Captain Molly" Corbin was likely into playing shoot 'em up arcade games and arm wrestling: Margaret Corbin, the American Revolution's heroine, was the first woman to receive a military pension for her service. She fearlessly took charge of a cannon after her husband's death in the Battle of Fort Washington, but was left disabled from battle wounds. Nevertheless, she continued aiding the wounded in the Invalid Regiment at West Point, earning herself a lifelong pension equivalent to half that of male combatants.
Source => womenshistory.org

2. Musket Lemons

When life gives you lemons, Margaret Corbin whips out her musket: This Revolutionary War camp follower not only combated alongside her husband at the Battle of Fort Washington, but also survived severe wounds that cost her the use of her left arm – earning her the title of first female pension recipient in American history.
Source => thenmusa.org

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3. Captain Crunch in Gender Wage Gap

From paychecks to battle checks, Margaret Corbin was a Captain Crunch-ing the gender wage gap: She was the first woman in the United States to receive a military pension from Congress for her service during the American Revolutionary War, notably at the battle of Fort Washington, earning her a place in the Corps of Invalids and the nickname "Captain Molly."
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Cannon Woman > Captain America

Who needs Captain America when you've got Cannon Woman on your side: Margaret Corbin was the first woman in U.S. history to be awarded a pension by Congress after heroically fighting off the British during the Battle of Fort Washington, where she commandeered a cannon despite her serious wounds, proving that even a Revolutionary War-era superheroine still knows how to pack a punch!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Pirate Nickname, No Plunder

You'd think she was a pirate with that nickname, but alas, no booty to plunder here: Margaret Corbin, dubbed "Captain Molly" during the Battle of Fort Washington, managed to showcase her fierceness by continuing to fire her husband's cannon even when gravely injured, until she was captured by the British.
Source => womenshistory.org

6. Rosie the Riveter's Predecessor

Before there was Rosie the Riveter flexing her biceps, there was Captain Molly giving "armed and dangerous" a whole new meaning: Margaret Corbin, the first woman to receive a military pension, fearlessly served in the American Revolution and despite losing the use of her left arm after being wounded in the Battle of Fort Washington, she continued to help wounded soldiers at West Point until her discharge in 1783.
Source => womenshistory.org

7. Beside Every Fallen Man, a Cannon-Woman

They say "behind every great man there's a great woman," but during the Battle of Fort Washington, Margaret Corbin proved that beside every fallen man, there's a woman who can shoot a cannon just as well: After her husband's injury, this fearless heroine took up arms and showcased her cannon-firing skills, eventually becoming the first woman in American history to receive a military pension for her courageous contribution to the revolution.
Source => womenshistory.org

8. Patriot-tini Twist: Monuments & Awards

Gather 'round, folks, for we're about to pour you a tall glass of Patriot-tini with a twist of revolutionary woman-power: Margaret Corbin is celebrated annually by the New York State Officers Club at West Point, with her monument being the only one dedicated to a female veteran on its grounds, a West Point Corbin Forum exists to educate cadets on women's roles in the military, and the Margaret Cochran Corbin Award is presented by the DAR to honor her legacy of selfless service and applaud modern military women who embody her spirit.
Source => dar.org

9. Captain Molly: Glass Ceilings & Cannonballs

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Captain Molly: shattering glass ceilings and cannonballs since 1776! Margaret Cochran Corbin, affectionately known as "Captain Molly," was the first woman to fire a cannon in battle for the United States Army and the first female recipient of a military pension, proving that she's not just playing with the big boys, she's leading them.
Source => womenshistory.org

10. Not-So-Final Resting Scooby-Doo Mystery

In a mysterious episode worthy of a Scooby-Doo case, the first lady of military pensions found her final resting place to be not-so-final after all: Margaret Corbin, who bravely served her country and thus became the first woman to receive a military pension, had her grave accidentally dug up in 2016 to reveal that her remains had gone AWOL, sparking an ongoing search for her original burial site and a renewed appreciation for her service and legacy as a veteran.
Source => atlasobscura.com

11. Petticoats, Cannonballs, and Girl Power

Before the Spice Girls taught us about girl power and Captain Marvel saved the universe, there was a real-life heroine rocking the 18th-century battlefield with her own cannons: Margaret Corbin, aka "Captain Molly," was the first woman to fight in the Revolutionary War by taking over cannon-firing duties after her husband perished in the Battle of Fort Washington. Her fearless actions earned her lifelong pension and legendary status, proving that not all heroes wear capes - some prefer petticoats and cannonballs!
Source => womenshistory.org

12. Mysterious Whodunit Remains

They say behind every great man is an even greater woman, but in Margaret Corbin's case, she was literally taking over her husband's cannon mid-battle and fighting for dear life: Margaret was a daring heroine of the American Revolution who assumed control of her husband's cannon after his demise in the Battle of Fort Washington, fought valiantly until she was severely injured, and was honored with a monument in the United States Military Academy Cemetery – yet, in a twist worthy of a whodunit, the remains thought to be hers turned out to be an unknown man's in 2017, keeping the mystery of her final resting place alive.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

13. Margaret and John: Artillery Romance

Talk about a marital power-couple: Margaret Corbin stepped up to the (cannon) plate when her husband John was killed during the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776, taking his position like a boss and helping out with the cannon, despite being injured herself in the process. All's fair in love and war: Margaret's extreme artillery romance earned her the title of first woman to receive a military pension from Congress for her service in the American Revolutionary War.
Source => thenmusa.org

14. Cannonball Queen's Wardrobe Upgrade

Margaret Corbin, the OG cannonball Queen: She quite literally blew the minds of the British during the American Revolution by dressing up as a man, firing cannons after her husband's demise, and sticking around to nurse the wounded despite her own injuries, earning herself a military pension and a new wardrobe in the process.
Source => womenshistory.org

15. West Point Cemetery's Tough Gal Enigma

Move over, Rosie the Riveter! There's a new tough gal in town: Margaret Corbin, the first female soldier in American history to receive a pension for her daring deeds in the Revolutionary War. After her husband took a fatal curtain call during the Battle of Fort Washington, this fearless femme fatale jumped into the limelight and fired his cannon at the British until she was injured. Now, she's kicking up her boots in a monument at West Point Cemetery, but the whereabouts of her final resting place remain as mysterious as her unyielding spirit.
Source => en.wikipedia.org