George Bissell (industrialist)
Encyclopedia
George Henry Bissell is often considered the father of the American oil industry. He was born in Hanover
, New Hampshire
, the son of Isaac Bissell and Nancy Wemple.
In 1853 he observed by chance the primitive oil
-gathering industry in western Pennsylvania
, although his interest in what was then known as "rock oil" had been piqued by seeing samples while a student at Dartmouth College
. At the time, oil was gathered by such crude methods as soaking blankets in surface oil and then draining the blankets over barrels. The oil was used mainly for medicinal purposes.
Bissell had the innovative idea of using this oil to produce kerosene
, then in high demand. After getting confirmation of the usefulness of the product from Yale chemist Benjamin Silliman Jr.
, he and his partner, Jonathan Eveleth
, formed the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company for this purpose. In 1856, after seeing pictures of derrick drilling for salt, Bissell conceived of the idea of drilling for oil, rather than mining it. This was widely considered ludicrous at the time but on August 27, 1859, the company first succeeded in striking oil, on a farm in Titusville
, Pennsylvania
. Bissell invested heavily in the surrounding region and ended up becoming a wealthy business man.
The company's agent, Edwin Drake
, is sometimes credited with the "discovery" of oil.
by Daniel Yergin. (1991; ISBN 0-671-50248-4)
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, the son of Isaac Bissell and Nancy Wemple.
In 1853 he observed by chance the primitive oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
-gathering industry in western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, although his interest in what was then known as "rock oil" had been piqued by seeing samples while a student at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. At the time, oil was gathered by such crude methods as soaking blankets in surface oil and then draining the blankets over barrels. The oil was used mainly for medicinal purposes.
Bissell had the innovative idea of using this oil to produce kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
, then in high demand. After getting confirmation of the usefulness of the product from Yale chemist Benjamin Silliman Jr.
Benjamin Silliman Jr.
Benjamin Silliman, Jr. was a professor of chemistry at Yale University and instrumental in developing the oil industry....
, he and his partner, Jonathan Eveleth
Jonathan Greenleaf Eveleth
Jonathan Greenleaf Eveleth founded the first oil company in America with George Bissell in 1854. Partners in the Wall Street law firm of Eveleth & Bissell, the two formed the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company with 5 other investors from New York, New Haven, and Titusville, Pennsylvania, to "raise,...
, formed the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company for this purpose. In 1856, after seeing pictures of derrick drilling for salt, Bissell conceived of the idea of drilling for oil, rather than mining it. This was widely considered ludicrous at the time but on August 27, 1859, the company first succeeded in striking oil, on a farm in Titusville
Titusville, Pennsylvania
Titusville is a city in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,146 at the 2000 census. In 1859, oil was successfully drilled in Titusville, resulting in the birth of the modern oil industry.-History:...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Bissell invested heavily in the surrounding region and ended up becoming a wealthy business man.
The company's agent, Edwin Drake
Edwin Drake
Edwin Laurentine Drake , also known as Colonel Drake, was an American oil driller, popularly credited with being the first to drill for oil in the United States.-Early life:...
, is sometimes credited with the "discovery" of oil.
Resources
The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and PowerThe Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power
The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power is Daniel Yergin's 800-page history of the global oil industry from the 1850s through 1990...
by Daniel Yergin. (1991; ISBN 0-671-50248-4)