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Captain Callie Leach French
Captain Callie French is regarded by many as the first licensed woman pilot in the
United States and the second woman to receive her master’s license (1895). She was only one of four women in the early ranks of female pilots on the inland river system. Initially, the examiners were skeptical to grant “Aunt Callie” her pilot’s license because of her gender. But in the end, seven of the most distinguished pilots awarded Captain Callie French her license.

Callie French and her husband, Augustus French, operated New Sensation
showboats along the waterways. As a licensed captain, she operated the boat while her husband was ashore. Captain Callie French’s first sole command on another boat would not occur until ten years after receipt of her license.

She piloted and captained boats on the river from 1888 until 1907. “Aunt Callie”
assisted thousands of patrons on board by cooking, mending, nursing, acting and writing gags. She never lost a boat nor had an accident.