Click image to enlarge
US inventor. In 1835 he produced an electric telegraph (see telegraphy), and in 1843 was granted $30,000 by Congress for an experimental line between Washington, DC, and Baltimore. With his assistant Alexander Bain (18101877) he invented the Morse code.
Black and red recall the tunics worn by soldiers during the Napoleonic wars. Gold was added to create a flag similar to the French tricolour, a symbol of revolution. Effective date: 23 May 1949.