GM – FBF – Today’s American Champion was, a Black inventor, who was awarded a patent for the Fire Extinguisher on March 26, 1872. The patent refers to pipe and valves and not the wall hanging type of extinguisher that is normally displayed. His fire extinguisher would be attached to a reservoir of stored water and used to spray burning fires.Today in our History – March 26, 1872 – THOMAS JEFFERSON MARTIN Patents Improved Fire Extinguisher. Black inventors were plentiful in the 19th Century, often creating innovative tools and techniques despite a known struggle to be recognized for their hard work. In the annals of Black History, the name Thomas J. Martin may not be immediately familiar, but his work as an inventor is quite notable. In 1872, Martin would make an improvement upon an earlier model of the fire extinguisher and was granted a patent (pictured) for his version of the fire-fighting tool on this day.Not much is known about Martin, but what is known is that he lived in the town of Dowagiac in the state of Michigan. According to research compiled by BlackInventions.org, Martin’s fire extinguisher would wisely be attached to a reservoir of stored water and used to spray burning fires.Below is a description of the invention from the awarded patent:The nature of invention relates to the construction, arrangement and combination of suitable pipes and valves for conducting water from suitable reservoirs to buildings by means of stationary engines, for the purpose of preventing or extinguishing fires in dwellings, mills, factories, towns and cities and may also be used for warning, ventilating and washing buildings and for washing pavements and sprinkling streets.Although British Captain George William Manby is credited with creating the modern style of the fire extinguisher in 1818, Martin’s improved version is often regarded as the first practical use of the machinery by some historians.Thomas Jefferson Martin, was a merchant and lived on a farm near Harpersville, Alabama. He was born May 29, 1842, near his place of residence. He had passed the greater part of his life as a merchant in Harpersville, retiring to his farm in 1897. He was the son of John Martin and Sarah (Thweat) Martin, both natives of South Carolina, where they married and soon afterward, 1820, located in Shelby County, Alabama They reared a family of eleven children, five of whom were surviving in 1904. The father was a well-to-do farmer, a Democrat, and he and his wife belonged to the Baptist church. He died in 1874, she in 1877.Thomas J. Martin was reared to farm life and given a fair common school education. He took an honorable part in the Civil war. He enlisted as a private in Company I, of the Eighteenth Alabama infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh and incapacitated for further service.He began a mercantile business in 1866 at Harpersville, which he continued with success until 1897. He at one time dealt largely in real estate and was one of the largest landowners in the county.He married, March 3, 1868, Evaline Moore Kidd. She was the daughter of Joseph W. Kidd and Caroline E. (Moore) Kidd and was born in Shelby County, Oct. 22, 1843. Her father was a son of William Kidd and Polly Henderson Kidd, while her maternal grandparents were Everett Moore and Anna Graham Moore. Both sides of the family were early comers to Alabama, the Kidds from Georgia, the Moores from North Carolina.Mr. and Mrs. Martin had five children in 1904, their names were: Thomas Algernon Martin, Sallie Graham Martin, John Renfro Martin, Joseph Webb Martin and Earl Thweat Martin. Thomas J. Martin and his family were among the best citizens of Shelby county, and merit the very high measure of esteem accorded them through all the countryside.On March 26 1872, Thomas J Martin, an African-American, was granted a patent for his version of the fire extinguisher. Martin’s invention, listed in the U. S. Patent Office in Washington, DC under patent number 125,063, was an improvement upon an earlier model of the fire extinguisher.The patent refers to pipe and valves and not the wall hanging type of extinguisher that is normally displayed.Martin’s fire extinguisher would wisely be attached to a reservoir of stored water and used to spray burning fires.Below is a description of the invention from the awarded patent:The nature of invention relates to the construction, arrangement and combination of suitable pipes and valves for conducting water from suitable reservoirs to buildings by means of stationary engines, for the purpose of preventing or extinguishing fires in dwellings, mills, factories, towns and cities and may also be used for warning, ventilating and washing buildings and for washing pavements and sprinkling streets.Although British Captain George William Manby is credited with creating the modern style of the fire extinguisher in 1818, Martin’s improved version is often regarded as the first practical use of the machinery by some historians.Research more about this great American Champion and share it with your babies. 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