Mary Dixon Kies Born 1752 - Died 1837 Weaving Straw with Silk or
Thread Patented: May 5, 1809 Mary Dixon Kies was the first woman
to apply for and receive a U.S. patent in her own name. Her
patent, issued May 5, 1809, was for a process for weaving straw
with silk that was adopted by the New England Kiesís invention
was praised by President James Madison's wife Dolly for helping
to improve New England's economic situation, which had been hurt
by an embargo on goods imported from Europe. New England's hat
industry was one of the few industries that continued to prosper
during the War Kies's patent, which was destroyed in the Patent
Office fire of 1836, was one of only 20 issued to a woman before
1840 Kies was born in South Killingly, Connecticut. Very little
is known about her life or her accomplishments beyond her
patented weaving process, which was widely used for over a
decade.