b. about 1750 and d. October 24, 1803

Swiss physician and chemist; inventor of the Argand lamp. His improvement was that he made the wick in the form of a ring. The flame thus became a hollow cylinder with a current of air ascending through the inside so that the burning surface was doubled. His brother discovered the effect of a cylindrical chimey for the burner, by which the flame was steadied, a draught created and the greatest amount of light yielded.

There is the power of being mastered by and
possessed with an idea. How rare it is! I don’t say
how few men are so mastered and possessed: I say
how few men have the power to be.

—Phillips Brooks

1921 B. C.—Oil lamps were used in the days of Abraham.

959—Candlesticks were used.

1290—Tallow candles were substituted for the tallow-dipped splinters of wood formerly used.

Lamps were mentioned in the early ages. They were in general use in London streets at the close of the eighteenth century. In 1681 London streets were lighted by oil-lamps, and in 1814 with gas-lamps.

1784—Aime Argand, a Swiss, invented an improved lamp.

1826—Kerosene was first used for illuminating.