Garrett Augustus Morgan was born on March 4, 1877 in Paris, Kentucky, and was seventh of eleven children. At a young age, he made big plans for himself to become a successful man.

At the age of fourteen, Garrett Morgan left home to pursue work in Cincinnati, Ohio. By that time Morgan had only a 5th grade education.

When Morgan arrived in Cincinnati, he found work as a handyman for a rich landowner. He used the money he made from that to pay for a tutor so that he could further his education.

Also, while working and attending tutoring, Garrett took some jobs working for sewing-machine factories and came up with an idea for a new business.

In 1907, Morgan opened a sewing machine reapir shop and applied for a patent on his idea for a new sewing machine design.

Garrett Morgan and his wife, Mary, had an issue with some wool burning in their sewing machine, but he learned that the heat straightened the hair. This lead him to his next invention!

Once Garrett and his wife put together their next invention, the hair straightening cream and tool, they sold it to other African Americans and made a lot of money.