| Birth: | May 2, 1797 | | Death: | Apr. 29, 1864 | 
“The Father of Kerosene.” Although a medical doctor, his love for geology led this Canadian to revolutionize the energy industry. Beginning in his childhood on the Nova Scotia coast, he collected and studied fossils and rocks becoming a self-taught geologist. In the mid-1840s he began experimenting with coal looking for an alternative illuminant to whale oil. By distilling lumps of coal he was able to develop a clear liquid that when lit with a wick produced a bright light. He called the new fuel “kerosene”. His discovery was a success and he moved to Long Island, New York where he established the North American Kerosene Light Company. His company eventually became a part of Standard Oil Company and he returned to Canada to teach at Dalhousie University. His work, “A Practical Treatise on Coal, Petroleum and Other Distilled Oils” published in 1861, is recognized as a standard in the industry. In 1933, Imperial Oil Company erected a tombstone at the geologist’s grave in his honor. (bio by: Bigwoo)
Search Amazon for Abraham Gesner | | | Burial:
Camp Hill Cemetery
Halifax
Nova Scotia, Canada |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: Elisa Jones
Record added: Jun 10, 2004
Find A Grave Memorial# 8895690 |
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