The 173rd anniversary of the first practical use of the kerosene lamp

On July 31, 1853, during a nighttime operation at the General Hospital in Lviv, a kerosene lamp was used for the first time. The invention, developed by the patron of the Ignacy Łukasiewicz ORLEN Foundation in collaboration with Jan Zeh, made it possible to create an efficient kerosene-based light source. The lamp was manufactured according to Łukasiewicz’s design in Adam Bratkowski’s workshop.

This event was not merely a technical success. It served as a catalyst for the development of the petroleum industry, modern lighting, and innovations whose impact we still feel today.