The Discovery of Kerosene

This article was originally written and submitted as part of a Canada 150 Project, the Innovation Storybook, to crowdsource stories of Canadian innovation with partners across Canada. The content has since been migrated to Ingenium’s Channel, a digital hub featuring curated content related to science, technology and innovation.

Apr 19, 2016

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By: Dom Campagna

Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad Company lamp and trainman's torch Source: Ingenium [CN002052]

An Invention Brought to Light

For thousands of years prior to Abraham Gesner’s discovery, people had used oil lamps to light their way. Like many primitive products, though, oil had its downfalls. The flame produced in oil lamps wasn’t very bright and the oil used would go bad after being stored for a while.

Gesner sought a fix. By distilling coal, he produced a clear liquid. When this liquid was placed in a lamp with a wick, it burned cleaner and much brighter than oil. He dubbed the liquid kerosene, derived from the Greek word “keroselaion” meaning “wax oil”.

By 1850, Gesner founded the Kerosene Gaslight Company and established a lucrative business installing lighting in the streets of Halifax and other surrounding areas. Kerosene lamps were used everywhere to light homes, trains and even ships. Stoves and heaters powered by kerosene became household items. Those who worked outside could use the lamps to light their work at night, extending their hours and increasing efficiency.

Just four years later in 1854, his business became popular enough to expand to the United States in Long Island, New York. His product became so popular that his companies were unable to meet the demand of its customers. But, when a Polish chemist discovered that kerosene could be more easily produced from petroleum, their problem was solved.

Kerosene eventually began to get taken over by electricity, but up until the 1940s it was still used widely in rural parts of the country. And, in many developing parts of the world kerosene is still the lighting fuel of choice.

The Beginning

Abraham Gesner was born on a large farm in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.

After attempting a career at sea and ending up shipwrecked twice in his twenties, he decided that a job on shore would be most suitable. Gesner returned to his family farm he went on to start an education. In 1824, he went to London to study medicine at St. Bartholomew’s hospital and surgery at Guy’s Hospital.

During his medical studies he developed an interest in geology, which would foreshadow the coming of his world-changing discovery.

Late Life

Gesner continued to research fuels late into his life, writing a number of scientific studies about the industry. He was eventually given the job as professor of natural history in 1863 at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

He died shortly after in April of 1964. Abraham Gesner was honoured in 1969 by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada with a monument to him in front of his former home in Chipman Corner, Nova Scotia.

Radio, Receiver Source: CSTMC/SMSTC [Artifact no. 2001.0320.001]

Source: Ingenium Artifact no. 2003.0061.001

Peter Lymburner Robertson (1879-1951)

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 4

The advertisement “La liberté d’expression,” in English “Freedom of Speech,” published by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon, “Canadair Limited.” La Presse, 13 April 1954, 25.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 3

“Freedom of Worship,” one of the advertisements issued by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon., “Canadair Limited.” The Vancouver Province, 5 January 1954, 5.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 2

One of the advertisements issued by Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, as part of its 1954 Worth Defending advertising campaign. Anon., “Canadair Limited.” Toronto Daily Star, 6 October 1954, 4.

“Worth Defending” – A brief look at the 1954 advertising campaign of a major Canadian aircraft manufacturing firm, Canadair Limited of Montréal, Québec, part 1

William Wallace Denslow’s lavishly illustrated booklet Through Foreign Lands with ‘Sunny Jim.’ https://wwdenslow.blogspot.com/ via Wikipedia.

“Forget that times are tough and grim, cheer up and smile with Sunny Jim” – The crunchy saga of Force Food Company’s Force, the 1st commercially successful wheat flake breakfast cereal on Earth, part 3

A typical advertisement issued by Force Food Company which featured Sunny Jim and, in this case, his spouse. Anon., “Force Food Company.” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 23 September 1902, 3.

“Forget that times are tough and grim, cheer up and smile with Sunny Jim” – The crunchy saga of Force Food Company’s Force, the 1st commercially successful wheat flake breakfast cereal on Earth, part 2

The roadster of the Société anonyme des automobiles électriques, Concours des véhicules électriques, Paris, France. Charles Dantin, “Automobiles – Les Essais contrôlés de véhicules à traction électrique à accumulateurs (octobre 1924).” Le Génie civil, 27 December 1924, 589.

“Petrol will never kill electricity, especially if the latter is defended by a Kriéger.” Louis Antoine Jules Tony Kriéger and his electric automobiles, including some of the first hybrid vehicles on planet Earth, part 4

The stand of the Compagnie parisienne des voitures électriques at the Exposition internationale de l’automobile, du cycle et des sports, Paris, France. Louis Antoine Jules Tony Kriéger was at its entrance. Anon., “Le Salon de l’automobile.” Le Monde Illustré, 19 December 1903, 551.

“Petrol will never kill electricity, especially if the latter is defended by a Kriéger.” Louis Antoine Jules Tony Kriéger and his electric automobiles, including some of the first hybrid vehicles on planet Earth, part 3

Louis Antoine Jules Tony Kriéger, on the left, at the wheel of an Électrolette a few moments before the beginning of his journey between Paris and Chatellerault, France. Georges Prade was at his side. Georges Prade, “Les records électriques.” La Vie au Grand Air, 27 October 1901, 638.

“Petrol will never kill electricity, especially if the latter is defended by a Kriéger.” Louis Antoine Jules Tony Kriéger and his electric automobiles, including some of the first hybrid vehicles on planet Earth, part 2

A typical hybrid vehicle of the Compagnie parisienne des voitures électriques of Paris, France. Lucien Fournier, “La voiture mixte Kriéger.” La Locomotion automobile, 7 July 1904, 422.

“Petrol will never kill electricity, especially if the latter is defended by a Kriéger.” Louis Antoine Jules Tony Kriéger and his electric automobiles, including some of the first hybrid vehicles on planet Earth, part 1

An Institute for Aerospace Research staff member conducting an inspection on a Shuttle Remote Manipulator System, or Canadarm, around 2000. National Research Council Canada.

“It is only with the DAIS that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye” – A respectful look at a great Canadian aerospace invention, the Diffracto DAIS non destructive testing equipment, and a bit more, part 2

$A technician conducting the first corrosion detection trial, on a Boeing Model 727 test airframe, using a Diffracto DAIS-500 non destructive testing equipment, 1992. National Research Council Canada.$

“It is only with the DAIS that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye” – A respectful look at a great Canadian aerospace invention, the Diffracto DAIS non destructive testing equipment, and a bit more, part 1

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The Discovery of Kerosene

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Radio, Receiver Source: CSTMC/SMSTC [Artifact no. 2001.0320.001]

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