Gesner, Abraham, 1797-1864

Abraham Pineo Gesner was born on May 2, 1797, in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.

He was a physician, geologist, and inventor. He studied medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Guy's Hospital Medical School in London, England. He also developed an interest in the earth sciences and took lectures in mineralogy and geology. In 1827, he settled in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, and worked as a traveling physician. He also continued to pursue his passion for geology, reading the writings of notable geologists, and collecting mineral specimens. In 1836, he published his first book "Remarks on the Geology and Mineralogy of Nova Scotia". Gesner served as the New Brunswick Provincial Geologist (1838-1843). In 1842, he opened the Gesner Museum which was a financial failure. His collection of minerals was acquired by the Natural History Society of New Brunswick in 1890. He returned to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, and continued to practice medicine, write books, give public lectures, and conduct experiments. In 1846, the government of Nova Scotia appointed him Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and in 1847, he submitted a report on the living conditions of the Miꞌkmaq population. In the 1840s, he resumed his experiments with the hydrocarbon lamp fuel as 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, calling it “kerosene”. His discovery was a success and he moved to Long Island, New York where he established the North American Kerosene Light Company. His company eventually became a part of Standard Oil Company and he returned to Canada to teach at Dalhousie University in 1863. His work “A Practical Treatise on Coal, Petroleum and Other Distilled Oils” (1861) is recognized as a standard in the industry. In 1933, the Imperial Oil Company erected a memorial at Gesner's grave to pay tribute to his contribution to the petroleum industry. In 2007, Gesner was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame.

In 1822, he married Harriett Webster (1801–1868). He died on April 29, 1864, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.