Morgan, Garrett Augustus (1877-1963), was an African American inventor. He developed a number of devices, including versions of the gas mask and traffic light.
Morgan developed a gas mask in 1912. His device included an airtight canvas hood that was worn over the head. The hood was connected to a special breathing tube that hung to the ground. Many police departments and fire departments throughout the United States became equipped with Morgan’s gas mask. In 1916, Morgan used his device to rescue more than 20 workers who were trapped in a smoke-filled water tunnel in Cleveland.
Morgan patented his traffic light in 1923. His device looked much different from the traffic signals used today. However, like modern traffic signals, the device Morgan patented had red, yellow, and green lights. Soon after Morgan received the patent for his traffic light, he sold the rights to the General Electric Company for $40,000.
Morgan was born on March 4, 1877, in Paris, Kentucky. He moved to Cleveland in 1895. He died on Aug. 27, 1963.
