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Teenage Captain Defies Storm & Mutiny
28 Jan
Summary
- A 19-year-old pregnant woman captained a ship through treacherous seas.
- She quelled a mutiny with a powerful speech to her crew.
- Her journey involved navigating storms and icebergs off Cape Horn.
In September 1856, Mary Ann Patten, a 19-year-old pregnant woman, assumed command of the clipper ship Neptune's Car after her husband fell gravely ill. Navigating the perilous waters near Cape Horn, she encountered a ferocious storm and a disloyal first mate, William Keeler.
Patten faced a mutinous crew, but her courage and a stirring speech rallied the men. She then steered the ship through violent gales and treacherous icebergs, a feat previously unheard of for a woman.
Ten weeks after departing New York in June 1856, Patten arrived in San Francisco Bay, completing a remarkable journey. Her story, now highlighted in Tilar J Mazzeo's book, showcases the capabilities of women in the 1850s.
