George F. Grant (1846–1910), an avid golfer, invented the wooden golf tee, receiving a patent on February 16, 1899. His invention would revolutionize the way golfers swing at the ball. Grant was a Boston native and became the second black to graduate from the Dental School at Harvard University. He became the first black member of Harvard’s faculty, where he was a “demonstrator” and instructor from 1878 to 1889. He became known for his dental bridgework. One of Grant’s personal patients was Harvard University president Charles William Eliot.