Garrett Morgan

Revolutionized public safety through groundbreaking inventions

Garrett Augustus Morgan (1877–1963) stands as one of America's most impactful African-American inventors whose creations fundamentally transformed urban life and emergency response systems. Born to formerly enslaved parents, Morgan's ingenuity led to two landmark inventions: the three-position traffic signal and the smoke hood prototype that evolved into modern gas masks.

Morgan's traffic signal patent (US Patent 1,475,024) introduced the third 'all-direction stop' phase in 1923, a critical innovation that reduced collisions at intersections. This system later formed the basis for modern traffic lights. His device was first implemented in Cleveland and subsequently adopted by major cities worldwide.

The inventor's smoke hood (1912 patent) proved revolutionary during the 1916 Lake Erie Tunnel disaster, where Morgan personally led rescue operations using his invention to save workers from toxic fumes. This technology became foundational for WWI gas masks and modern firefighting equipment.

Beyond engineering, Morgan launched the Cleveland Call newspaper advocating for African-American rights and developed a groundbreaking hair-straightening product. His legacy continues through the Garrett Morgan Water Treatment Plant in Cleveland and his induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.