Here's how it happened:
* Prior to SOS: Before 1908, ships used various signal flags and combinations of lights to communicate distress. However, these methods were often confusing and prone to misinterpretation.
* The International Radiotelegraph Convention: In 1908, the International Radiotelegraph Convention adopted a new distress signal: "CQD". This signal was more standardized, but still lacked clarity.
* SOS comes into play: During the convention, there was a strong push to adopt a simpler and more easily recognizable distress signal. While the origins of the "SOS" idea aren't completely clear, it was likely proposed by multiple individuals due to its simple dot-dash-dot-dot-dash-dot Morse code pattern.
* Official adoption: After extensive discussions and trials, the International Radiotelegraph Convention officially adopted "SOS" as the new international distress signal in 1909.
Therefore, "SOS" wasn't invented, but rather adopted as a standardized distress signal based on the existing letters S and O. It's a collective achievement, with no single inventor credited.