Mary Ann Brown Patten, Ship's Captain
Mary Ann Brown Patten or Patton (1837-1861) was the first female commander of an American merchant vessel. She was the wife of Joshua Patten, captain of the merchant clipper ship Neptune's Car, and took over for 56 days in 1856 when her husband fell into a coma. She quelled a mutiny, rounded Cape Horn, sailed the ship to San Francisco, and navigated into the harbor without a pilot. At the time of docking, she was 19 years old and eight months pregnant
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50658445
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50658445
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© Science Source / Mary Evans Picture Library
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