Garrett A. Morgan

1877–1963

What Garrett contributed

Patented a protective breathing hood and later a three-position traffic signal.

The story

Morgan was an inventor and entrepreneur. His breathing device was used during a dangerous tunnel rescue, and his traffic signal added an intermediate caution position.

Why it matters

His safety inventions protected rescuers and contributed to more orderly roadway traffic.

Patent record
U.S. Patents 1,113,675 and 1,475,024