Little is known about the early life of the remarkable Restoration author and professional spy Aphra Behn (1640?–1689) who was, by the late 1650s, already a skilled Royalist agent and courier (code-name 'Astraea'). She continued her intelligence-gathering activities when she sailed with her mother and siblings to the new colony of Surinam. Back in London, she married the German merchant Johann Behn, who appears to have died instantly. In about 1670, when she was working under cover in Antwerp, money troubles prompted 'Widow Behn' to take up writing for the theatre. At least nineteen plays, possibly many more, as well as novels, poetry, panegyrics, and translations followed. She may be regarded as the first professional woman writer in English.