Mary East

James How (occasionally spelled James Howe; born Mary East; – 8 June 1780), was an English tavern owner best known for living as a married man (despite being born female) from 1732 until 1766, when legal action against an extortionist forced a permanent return to female presentation.

How's story was the subject of contemporary newspaper articles, a section in Bram Stoker's Famous Imposters, a song in R. M. Anderson's Songs From The Howling Sea, and a painting in Ria Brodell's Butch Heroes series. As a consequence of their public revelations, How (now "East") retreated from public life and lived the remainder of their days as a woman. Later commentators have called into question these interpretations of the Hows as transgressive, but ultimately heterosexual and cis-gendered, arguing that it was possible (or even likely) that the Hows were lovers and that How was a transgender man or otherwise of nonbinary gender.

How is artistically commemorated in a song in R.M. Anderson's Songs From The Howling Sea and a painting in Ria Brodell's Butch Heroes series.