Born February 17, 1755 (Block Island, Rhode Island)

Died July 20, 1814 (Cumberland Island, Georgia)

Businesswoman

Catharine "Caty" Littlefield Greene witnessed, and at times participated in, some of the most far-reaching events in American history through her marriage to General Nathanael Greene (1742–1786). She was a friend and confidant to important, well-known people of her day, including President George Washington (1732–1799; served 1789–97; see entry in volume 2) and his wife, Martha Washington (1732–1802; see entry in volume 2).

After the American Revolution (1775–83), Catharine Greene became a financial supporter of Eli Whitney (1765–1825; see entry in volume 2), who was developing a mechanized process for ginning, separating cotton fiber from its seeds. Her participation in Whitney's invention of the cotton gin secured her place in history, because...