Electric Lamps / Lights

Yesterday I posted about the early part of the 19th century and specifically the oil lamps. In addition to oil lamps there were gas lights and electric lights. Below is an outline of the history of electric lamps throughout the century.

1801 First electric arc lamp was invented in England by Sir Humphrey Davy.
1854 First true lightbulb invented by Henricg Globel of Germany
1857 Fluorescent lamp was introduced in France by A.E. Becquerel
1875 Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans patented a lightbulb.
1879 Thomas Edison improved the incandescent light
1880 Edison's patent was granted.

Practically speaking you won't have electric lamps in the homes of your characters set prior to the 1880's. Another interesting texture to oil and gas lamps is the smell, keep that in mind when writing as well. Remember to use the five senses when describing what your characters are experiencing.

Cane Ridge Revival

This meeting house was originally built a few years before the 19th century, 1791. Today it is housed within another structure built to protect it from the elements.

The Scots-Irish Presbyterians came and settled in Kentucky after the advice of their guide, Daniel Boone.

I encourage you to check out their website to get a feel for the history there. The Revival that took place in 1801 military personal estimated to have reached 20,000 to 30,000 persons of all ages and backgrounds. The same site three years later, 1804 was the birth place of Springfield Presbytery.

I also have another link here of person's visit to this historic location The Xenohistorian Weblog. This blog has several pictures of the building.

First Practical Steamboat

In 1801 William Symington developed and designed a new steam engine and was built by John Allan. Lord Dundas being a primary sponsor of the project was honored by the naming of the boat as the Charlotte Dundas after Lord Dundas' daughter. The first sailing was on a canal in Glasgow, Jan. 4, 1803. Symington was never paid for his work on the Charlotte. It wasn't until 1807 when Robert Fulton and Livingston built the first commercial steamboat in New York that the industry truly developed.