Historians have little doubt that Friedrich von Steuben was a gay man, although, since homosexuality was against the law at the time, the evidence lies mainly in personal correspondence. He never married and had no children. When he died, he left his estate to two young men, Benjamin Walker and William North, whom he had adopted to make them his heirs, and one young man, John W. Mulligan, whom he had not adopted but who considered himself part of von Steuben’s family.
–The Man Who Wrote the Book on War
How does the text to the left support historians’ belief that von Steuben was gay?
It clarifies that historians had little doubt about his homosexuality.
When he died, he left his estate to friends because he had no wife or children.
He enjoyed writing letters to his friends.
Homosexuality was against the law.
