Mary Dixon was born in Killingly, Connecticut. Details of her early life are scarce, but it's known that she grew up in a time of significant social and political change in the American colonies. This environment likely fostered a sense of ingenuity and self-reliance in her, characteristics that would later serve her well in her inventive pursuits.

While documented details are limited, this period encompassed Mary's formative years where she likely learned essential domestic skills, including sewing, weaving, and other textile arts common to women of her time. These skills and experiences would later serve as the foundation for her invention.

Mary Dixon Kies invented a method for weaving straw with silk or thread to create bonnets and hats. This invention came at a critical time when the Embargo Act of 1807 and the subsequent War of 1812 severely restricted trade with Europe, the primary source of fashionable bonnets. Her technique offered a much-needed domestic alternative.

Mary Dixon Kies was awarded a patent for her straw weaving technique. This made her one of the first women in the United States to receive a patent under her own name, marking a significant achievement in a male-dominated era of invention and innovation. At the time, married women had difficulty obtaining patents independently, making Kies' accomplishment all the more remarkable.

Kies's invention had a significant, though perhaps under-acknowledged, impact on the burgeoning American millinery (hat-making) industry. By providing a locally sourced and affordable alternative to imported bonnets, she helped to alleviate economic pressures caused by trade restrictions. Her technique encouraged the growth of domestic production and offered opportunities for American women to participate in the trade.

Mary Dixon Kies passed away in 1837. Although she did not achieve widespread fame during her lifetime, her contributions as an inventor and her impact on the American economy were eventually recognized. Her story serves as an important reminder of the often-overlooked contributions of women to innovation and industry.

More than a century after her death, Mary Dixon Kies's significant contribution to American innovation was formally recognized when she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006. This posthumous honor solidified her place in history as a pioneering woman inventor and a symbol of American ingenuity.