Martha Coston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Jane Coston
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| Born | December 12, 1826 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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| Died | July 9, 1904 (aged 77) |
| Resting place | Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Owner of the Coston Signal Company |
Martha Jane Coston (born December 12, 1826 – died July 9, 1904) was an American inventor and businesswoman. She is famous for creating the Coston flare. This was a special device used for sending signals at sea. Martha also owned the Coston Manufacturing Company.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Martha Hunt was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She moved to Philadelphia in the 1830s. When she was about 15 or 16, she married Benjamin Franklin Coston. He was 21 and already known as a promising inventor.
Benjamin became a director at the U.S. Navy's science lab in Washington, D.C. There, he worked on a signaling rocket. He also tried to create color-coded night signals for ships. At that time, ships could only use flags during the day. At night, they used lanterns, which were hard to see.
Benjamin left the Navy in 1847. He then became president of the Boston Gas Company. Sadly, his health got worse because of the chemicals he worked with. He died in 1848. His ideas for signal flares were important, but they were not yet complete.
Developing the Flare System
After Benjamin died, Martha faced many challenges. Two of her children and her mother also passed away. This left her feeling sad and in a difficult financial situation.
While looking through her husband's papers, Martha found his notes. These notes were about night signaling for ships. Benjamin's work was not finished. Martha knew it needed a lot more effort to become a useful system.
For almost ten years, Martha worked to develop the flare system. She didn't know much about chemistry or fireworks. So, she hired chemists and fireworks experts to help her.
A big moment happened in 1858. Martha was watching fireworks in New York City. They were celebrating the new transatlantic telegraph cable. She realized her system needed a bright blue flare. She already had red and white flares.
Martha then started the Coston Manufacturing Company. This company made the signal flares. She also worked with a fireworks expert to create the blue color.
On April 5, 1859, Martha received a U.S. Patent. It was for a pyrotechnic night signal and code system. The patent was given to her as the manager of her husband's work. He was named as the inventor.
This system used different color combinations. It allowed ships to send messages to each other. They could also signal to the shore. The U.S. Navy tested the flares. They found the system worked very well.
In 1859, the Navy ordered 300 flares. Later, they placed a larger order for $6,000 worth of flares.
International Success and the Civil War
Martha Coston also got patents in other countries. These included England, France, and Italy. She traveled to Europe to sell her invention there.
She returned to the U.S. in 1861 when the Civil War began. Martha asked Congress to buy her patent. She wanted the flares to be used in the war. On August 5, 1861, Congress agreed. The U.S. Navy bought the patent for $20,000.
Coston flares were very important during the Civil War. The U.S. Navy used them a lot. They helped find and capture Confederate blockade runners. These were ships that tried to sneak past the Union blockade. Coston flares also helped coordinate naval operations. This was during the Battle of Fort Fisher in North Carolina.
In 1871, Martha Coston received a patent in her own name. It was for improvements to her night signals. She continued to ask the U.S. government for more money. During the war, her company supplied flares at a very low price. She believed the government owed her $120,000. Even though she tried for over ten years, she only received an extra $15,000.
Saving Lives at Sea
The United States Life-Saving Service used Coston flares at every station. This service helped rescue people from shipwrecks. The flares were used to signal ships and warn about dangers. They also called rescuers to a wreck.
Many stories of rescues mention the Coston flare. It helped save thousands of lives. Martha Coston died in 1904. However, her company continued to operate. It was later called the Coston Signal Company. It stayed in business until at least 1985.
Legacy
In 2006, Martha Coston was honored. She was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Martha and her husband are buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
See also
In Spanish: Martha Coston para niños
