Note 26 — Chapter V · THE FIRST GLIMMER OF THE SAFETY-LAMP.

Gas was first evolved from coal by Clayton, in 1739. Its application to the purposes of illumination was first tried by Mr. Murdoch, in Cornwall, in 1792. Ten years after this (in 1802) Bolton and Watt’s foundry, at Birmingham, exhibited the first display of gas-lights during the rejoicings for peace. The first manufactory permanently lighted by gas was a cotton mill at Manchester—this was in 1805. Gas was first used for lighting Pall Mall, in London, in 1809, and in 1814 it had become general throughout the metropolis. The gas-pipes in and round London are now said to be more than 1100 miles in length.