One woman makes history at the helm in 1856

In honor of International Women’s Day 2023, FreightWaves Classics highlights the story of Mary Patten, heralded as the first woman to captain an American merchant ship.

Mary Patten was the first woman to command an American merchant ship in 1856. (Photo: Smithsonian)

Mary Ann Brown married Joshua Adams Patten before she turned 16. He was captain of a ship named Neptune’s Car, owned by Foster & Nickerson, according to an article from the New York Tribune. After their marriage, she joined him on...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/one-woman-makes-history-at-the-helm-in-1856

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