Abraham Gesner, “The Father of Kerosene”was born on May 2, 1797. Although a medical doctor, his love for geology led this Canadian to revolutionize the energy industry. 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”.
