Nicholas de Raylan (1873 - 1906) secretary, soldier.

Well educated and obviously a graduate of a Russian university, Nicholas de Raylan declared himself to be the son of a Russian admiral. He was the confidential secretary to the Russian Consul in Chicago.

He enlisted in the U.S. army during the Spanish-American war.

He married twice. The first wife obtained a divorce after ten years of marriage on the grounds of cruelty and misconduct with chorus girls.

His second wife was a chorus girl and brought a child from a previous marriage.

Suffering from tuberculosis, de Raylan went to Phoenix, Arizona hoping for a cure, but died there. The telegram that announced his death also declared him to be a woman. Both wives insisted that this must be nonsense.

• Havelock Ellis. Studies in the Psychology of Sex. Vol 2, part 2. Sexual Inversion 3^rd edition. NY: Random House. 1936:248.
• Eugene de Savitsch. Homosexuality, Transvestism and Change of Sex. Springfield Ill: Charles C. Thomas 1958: 6-7.
• Jonathan Katz. Gay American History: Lesbians And Gay Men In The U.S.A. New York: Crowell 1976. New York: A Discus Book.1978: 379-381. Online at www.outhistory.org/wiki/New_York_Times:_death_of_Nicolai_de_Raylan,_June_26,_1907.