Martha Coston

Martha Coston invented a system of pyrotechnic flares used for communicating over distances at night. Her husband had led in the signal flare development for the Navy, and Martha took over after his untimely death. The Coston signal flares were a key component of the Union Navy in the Civil War and were later used by the Coast Guard to warn mariners from dangerous waters. In addition to developing the flares, Martha Coston created the company that produced them for the navies of several countries. This chapter also describes how flares work and compares them to fireworks.