| John Peake Knight | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 13, 1828 Nottingham |
| Died | July 23, 1886 (aged 58) |
| Nationality | England |
| Education | Nottingham High School |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Knight (c1832-1913) |
| Children | James Percy Knight |
| Work | |
| Employer(s) |
London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Company |
| Significant projects | first traffic lights |
| Significant awards | Legion of Honor, 1878[1] |
John Peake 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, at the intersection of George and Bridge Streets (SW1).[2]
The lights exploded during use in 1869 and were removed by 1870.
For his secondary education, he attended Nottingham High School.
In 1910, Earnest Sirrine improved the light by adding automatics. 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.
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He is buried in Brompton Cemetery in London.[3]