Garrett Morgan

Garrett Morgan was an inventor and businessmen born in Paris Kentucky, best known for inventing the earliest model of the gas mask, named the Morgan Safety Hood and Smoke Protector, and the traffic light. His additions to the scientific world and to everyday life still help us today. Morgan was born in Kentucky on March 4, 1877. He only attended elementary school, but later hired a private tutor to take care of the rest of his schooling. When Morgan was 18 he left his family to move to Cleveland, Ohio, where he went to repair sewing machines. In 1907, Morgan opened an equipment and repair shop of his own, and soon expanded it to a tailoring shop. Garrett Morgan soon became a very prosperous individual, and was able to buy a home and a car, which inspired him to improve traffic signals. Morgan’s earliest invention, the gas mask, was put into use early in Morgan’s career. In 1916, Morgan made national news for using his gas mask to rescue 32 people from an explosion in an underground tunnel. After the rescue mission, Morgan’s company was bombarded with requests to purchase one of his gas masks. With the new addition of automobiles to America’s daily life, roadways were hectic and confusing. Accidents and collisions were inevitable. Travel by car was overall messy and disorganized. After watching a crash between a car and a carriage, Morgan set to work on his newest invention, the traffic light. Morgan acquired his patent for his traffic light in 1923. In regard to his patent, Morgan stated “This invention relates to traffic signals, and particularly to those which are adapted to be positioned adjacent the intersection of two or more streets and are manually operable for directing the flow of traffic... In addition, my invention contemplates the provision of a signal which may be readily and cheaply manufactured." Morgan’s traffic light included three positions: Stop, go, and a four-way stop. The four-way stop was to allow pedestrians to walk across