Lukasiewicz Ignacy

Ignacy Lukasiewicz (1822-1882 - the founder of the world petroleum industry. He was born in 1822 in Zaduszniki Dolne (Mielec district), Poland.

He was interested in potential of seep oil as a cheap alternative to expensive whale oil. In 1853 Lukasiewicz as a first in the world destilled clear kerosene from smelly seep oil. The same year he inaugurated the oil industry. On July 31, 1853 Lukasiewicz provided light from one of his kerosene lamps to a local hospital for an emergency surgery.

At the beginning of 1854 Łukasiewicz moved to Gorlice and continued his activity. He set up a lot of companies with many entrepreneurs and land owners. In 1854 he founded the first petroleum mine in Poland and in 1856 the first distillery of petroleum. HIgnacy Lukasiewicz died on 7th January 1882 of heavy pneumonia.