Mary Ann Brown Patten or Patton (April 6, 1837 – March 17, 1861) was the first female commander of an American merchant vessel.

His wife took command for 56 days, faced down a mutiny, and successfully managed to navigate the clipper ship into San Francisco.

[6] According to the New York Herald, Patten was a last minute replacement for the ship's previous captain, who had taken ill shortly before the vessel was set to travel the world.

The Herald claims that Joshua and Mary Patten were aboard Neptune's Car preparing to leave the dock only twelve hours after they first received the offer.

However earlier in the voyage Captain Patten had caught him sleeping on watch and losing valuable time by leaving sails reefed.

The second mate was illiterate and unable to navigate, which left Mary Patten the most qualified person on board to bring the ship safely into port.

[13] When Neptune's Car arrived at San Francisco Harbor Mary Patten rejected an offer to wait for a pilot to navigate the clipper ship into port, and instead took the helm herself.

"[15] Joshua Patten survived the journey back to New York on the steamer George Law and safely returned to Boston with his wife.