Mary Dixon Kies
Encyclopedia
Mary Dixon Kies was an early 19th-century American
who was the first recipient of a patent
granted to a woman by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
, on May 5, 1809, which was for a technique of weaving straw
with silk
and thread
.
, Ireland
. Her mother was Janet Kennedy who was the third wife of John Dixon. They had married in Voluntown, Connecticut
on August 7, 1741. John Dixon was a farmer. Mary Dixon was born in Killingly, Connecticut
on March 21, 1752. She married Isaac Pike I, and had a son Isaac Pike II. After his death she married John Kies (1750–1813) who died on August 18, 1813 at age 63. She then went to live with her son, Daniel Kies, in Brooklyn, New York where she died at age 85 in 1837.
Straw weaving was an economically vital industry in America during the 1800s. Women wore straw hats for working in the field. The Patent Act of 1790 opened the door for anyone, male or female, to protect his or her invention with a patent. However, because in many states women could not legally own property independent of their husbands, many women inventors didn't bother to patent their new inventions. Mary Kies broke that pattern on May 5, 1809.
Mary Kies was not the first American woman to improve hat-making. In 1798, New Englander Betsy Metcalf invented a method of braiding straw. Her method became very popular, and she employed many women to make her hats, but she didn't patent her process. When asked why, Metcalf said she didn't want her name being sent to Congress. Kies had a different perspective, and she couldn't have picked a better time to secure her new product, because the U.S. government had stopped importing European goods. (Napoleon was at war with many nations of Europe at the time, and one way he tried to win the war was to block trade and hurt his enemies economically. The U.S. did not want to be drawn into this conflict.) President James Madison
was looking for American industries to replace the lost European goods.
Her technique proved valuable in making cost-effective work bonnets. In so doing, she bolstered New England's hat economy, which had been faltering due to the European embargo. Straw bonnets manufactured in Massachusetts alone in 1810 had an estimated value of more than $500,000 or over $4.7 million in today's money. Dolley Madison honored her for this work.
Her original patent file was destroyed in a fire at the United States Patent Office in 1836.
Kies was unsuccessful in her attempts to profit from her invention, however, and died penniless in Brooklyn, New York in 1837.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who was the first recipient of a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
granted to a woman by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
, on May 5, 1809, which was for a technique of weaving straw
Straw
Straw is an agricultural by-product, the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. Straw makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat. It has many uses, including fuel, livestock bedding and fodder, thatching and...
with silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and thread
Yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern manufactured sewing threads may be finished with wax or...
.
Biography
Her father was John Dixon born in 1679 in UlsterUlster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Her mother was Janet Kennedy who was the third wife of John Dixon. They had married in Voluntown, Connecticut
Voluntown, Connecticut
Voluntown is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,528 at the 2000 census. From 1726 to 1881 Voluntown had been part of Windham County.-Geography:...
on August 7, 1741. John Dixon was a farmer. Mary Dixon was born in Killingly, Connecticut
Killingly, Connecticut
Killingly is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 16,472 at the 2000 census. It consists of the borough of Danielson and the villages of Attawaugan, Ballouville, Dayville, East Killingly, Rogers, and South Killingly....
on March 21, 1752. She married Isaac Pike I, and had a son Isaac Pike II. After his death she married John Kies (1750–1813) who died on August 18, 1813 at age 63. She then went to live with her son, Daniel Kies, in Brooklyn, New York where she died at age 85 in 1837.
Straw weaving was an economically vital industry in America during the 1800s. Women wore straw hats for working in the field. The Patent Act of 1790 opened the door for anyone, male or female, to protect his or her invention with a patent. However, because in many states women could not legally own property independent of their husbands, many women inventors didn't bother to patent their new inventions. Mary Kies broke that pattern on May 5, 1809.
Mary Kies was not the first American woman to improve hat-making. In 1798, New Englander Betsy Metcalf invented a method of braiding straw. Her method became very popular, and she employed many women to make her hats, but she didn't patent her process. When asked why, Metcalf said she didn't want her name being sent to Congress. Kies had a different perspective, and she couldn't have picked a better time to secure her new product, because the U.S. government had stopped importing European goods. (Napoleon was at war with many nations of Europe at the time, and one way he tried to win the war was to block trade and hurt his enemies economically. The U.S. did not want to be drawn into this conflict.) President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
was looking for American industries to replace the lost European goods.
Her technique proved valuable in making cost-effective work bonnets. In so doing, she bolstered New England's hat economy, which had been faltering due to the European embargo. Straw bonnets manufactured in Massachusetts alone in 1810 had an estimated value of more than $500,000 or over $4.7 million in today's money. Dolley Madison honored her for this work.
Her original patent file was destroyed in a fire at the United States Patent Office in 1836.
Kies was unsuccessful in her attempts to profit from her invention, however, and died penniless in Brooklyn, New York in 1837.