The History Behind Kerosene Oil: It’s More Interesting than You Think!

Posted: Apr 22, 2012
Author: Bumgarner Oil

Have you ever wondered how kerosene oil was discovered and how it revolutionized our world as we know it today? Okay, you probably haven’t… but it’s actually a more interesting history than you might think.

Kerosene oil was first created in 1846 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island by a geologist and medical doctor named Abraham Gesner. The fluid was created by distilling coal and gave off a pale yellow flame when placed into an oil lamp. Gesner named it kerosene, coming from the Greek word for “wax oil”: keroselaion.

At that point in time, most homes used lamps fueled by fat or camphene (burning fluid), or whale oil because gas lighting was too expensive for the masses. Initially, kerosene oil was also too expensive, until it was discovered that it could be refined from petroleum. That’s when the kerosene revolution exploded. By 1860, there were approximately 30 kerosene refineries in the U.S. At only 30 cents per gallon, kerosene oil quickly became an inexpensive solution for lighting homes, retail establishments, offices, hospitals, pharmacies, and factories around the world.

Suddenly, people’s lives began to change. Because of better and more reliable lighting, farmers could work longer days and increase their crop yield. Kerosene oil began to be used for headlamps, signaling devices on trains, lanterns on ships, headlights for early automobiles, and more. The oil’s cleaning properties were discovered when a kerosene lamp accidentally tipped over on a soiled tablecloth in France, and the dry cleaning industry was born. Social events could now be held more often in the evenings, now that people didn’t have to rely on candles or firelight. It was even discovered that kerosene oil could be used to kill head lice.

While kerosene has largely been replaced by electricity in U.S. homes today, it is still used frequently in developing countries like Nigeria, where it is estimated that 90 percent of homes still depend on kerosene oil for cooking, heating and indoor lighting. It is also used around the world for jet fuel and is a great resource to have around for heating & lighting in times of emergency.

You can learn more here.