Home > American Revolution > Mary Katherine Goddard Biography

Born June 16, 1738
Groton, Connecticut
Died August 12, 1816
Baltimore, Maryland

Publisher, postmaster, printer of the "authentic copy" of the Declaration of Independence

"An expert and correct compositor of types [typesetter]," according to her brother William.

Mary Katherine Goddard was a successful businessperson of the eighteenth century who turned enterprises begun by her undependable brother into financial successes. She was the most acclaimed female publisher during the American Revolution. Her reputation for quality work spread far beyond the cities where her newspapers were produced. In the end, she was forced to live in near-poverty when she lost her government job because of limitations set on women of her day.

Mary Katherine Goddard was the daughter of Dr. Giles Goddard and printer Sarah Updike Goddard (see box). She was born in Groton, Connecticut....