J. P. Knight

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J. P. Knight, a railway engineer, invented the original traffic light in 1868. This was not the traffic light we know now but was a revolving gas-powered lantern with a red and a green light. Knight's invention was similar to the railway signals of the time. The traffic light was originally placed near London's House of Commons.

For his secondary education, he attended Nottingham High School.

In 1910, Earnest Sirrine improved the light by adding automatic. He also changed the red and green lights to words that read proceed and stop.

In 1912, Lester Wire opted to go back to the red and green lights. However, this time, electric lights were used instead of the original gas-powered lanterns.