Who was Mary Ann Patten and what did she do?

Mary Ann Patten was a 19-year-old woman who captained the clipper ship Neptune's Car in 1856, navigating around Cape Horn.

What challenges did Mary Ann Patten face on Neptune's Car?

She faced her husband's illness, a mutinous first mate, a severe storm, and dangerous ice fields near Cape Horn.

Is Mary Ann Patten's story still relevant today?

Yes, her historic feat of captaining a merchant clipper is still taught to cadets at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Home / Lifestyle / Pregnant Captain Navigates Cape Horn Storm

Pregnant Captain Navigates Cape Horn Storm

9 Dec, 2025

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Summary

A pregnant woman captained a ship in 1856.
She averted a mutiny and navigated treacherous seas.
Her historic feat is still taught today.

Pregnant Captain Navigates Cape Horn Storm

In 1856, a pregnant 19-year-old named Mary Ann Patten assumed command of the clipper ship Neptune's Car. Her husband, the captain, was incapacitated by illness near the perilous Cape Horn passage. Simultaneously, a violent first mate plotted a mutiny.

Patten, skilled in celestial navigation, confronted the crew, asserting her husband's authority and her own capability. She successfully rallied the crew, who acclaimed her as captain, thwarting the mutiny. Facing extreme weather and navigating by the wind, she steered the ship through dangerous ice fields.

Upon reaching San Francisco, Patten's incredible journey became an international sensation. Her story of bravery and seamanship cemented her legacy, with her command of the clipper ship around Cape Horn still taught to cadets.

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