Mary Dixon Kies
Mary Dixon Kies | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 21, 1752 |
| Died | 1837 (aged 84–85) |
| Resting place | Old South Killingly Cemetery, Killingly, Connecticut |
| Occupation | Inventor |
| Known for | First woman to receive a U.S. patent |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | Isaac Pike II |
Mary Dixon Kies (March 21, 1752 – 1837) was an American inventor. On May 5, 1809, her patent for a new technique of weaving straw with silk and thread to make hats was signed by President James Madison.
Some sources say she was the first woman to receive a US patent, however other sources cite Hannah Slater in 1793, or Hazel Irwin, who received a patent for a cheese press in 1808, as the first.