Full Name: Abraham Pineo Gesner
Profession: Physician and Geologist
Biography: Abraham Gesner was a Canadian physician and geologist, best known for inventing kerosene. This resulted from his work experimenting with hydrocarbons, ultimately extracting kerosene from albertite.
Gesner demonstrated his new fuel in 1846, where he showed that it produced a brighter and cleaner flame than either whale or coal oil. The initial name for this substance was 'keroselain,' which was derived from the Greek words for wax and oil.
Apart from the discovery of kerosene, Gesner was also an important figure in Canadian geology. He published several works in the field, and albertite, from which kerosene was extracted, was also his own discovery.
In 1842, Gesner founded a museum of wildlife and material specimens that he had collected during his geological work and travels in Canada. This was the first such museum to be established in the country.
Born: May 2, 1797
Birthplace: Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, Canada
Star Sign: Taurus
Historical Events
- 1855-03-27 Canadian geologist Abraham Gesner patents kerosene
Biographies and Sources
- Abraham Gesner - Dalhouse University
- Gesner, Abraham - Dictionary of Canadian Biography
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