Canadian
Geologist Abraham Gesner patented kerosene on March 27, 1855. Gesner's
discovery of kerosene helped end the era of whale oil as a primary light
source. Gesner distilled coal to produce a clear liquid that burned brighter
and cleaner than oil in lamps. He named the liquid kerosene, which comes from
the Greek word keroselaion, meaning "wax oil". Because kerosene was
derived from coal, it was also called "coal oil". Gesner's other
inventions compressed coal-dust briquettes, a process for asphalt road paving, and a machine that insulated electric wire.
