Dr. Abraham Gesner is widely considered to be the "father of oil."
Dr. Abraham Gesner (May 2, 1797 – April 29, 1864) was a Canadian physician and geologist who is best known for inventing kerosene. His innovations were crucial to the early development of the petroleum industry. While he didn't discover oil itself, his method of refining it from coal and oil shale revolutionized lighting and laid the groundwork for the modern oil industry.
Gesner's key contributions include:
- Invention of Kerosene: Gesner developed a process to extract a clear, clean-burning oil, which he named kerosene, from coal. This was a significant improvement over existing lighting fuels.
- Gesner's Kerosene Company: In 1854, he established the North American Kerosene Gas Light Company (later renamed Gesner's Kerosene Oil Co.) in Long Island, New York, to manufacture kerosene on a commercial scale.
- Paving the Way for Petroleum: Although initially derived from coal, Gesner's process was later adapted to refine petroleum. His work demonstrated the potential of oil as a fuel source and spurred further innovation and investment in the petroleum industry.
While others also contributed to the early development of the oil industry, Gesner's invention of kerosene and his subsequent manufacturing company are considered foundational, thus earning him the title "father of oil."
