Mary Ann Brown Patten (April 6, 1837 – March 18, 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. 1856 sailed Neptune's Car. a clipper ship from New York to San Francisco in 138 days. Captain Patten was taken ill with brain fever and became both deaf and blind and his 19 year old wife took over command of the ship.