Edwin Drake - Key Points and Biography

Personal Background

• Full Name: Edwin Laurentine Drake
• Birth: March 29, 1819, Greenville, New York, U.S.
• Death: November 9, 1880, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
• Parents: Lyman Drake and Laura Lee
• Marriages:
  • First wife: Philena Adams (died 1854)
  • Second wife: Laura Dowd (married 1857)
• Occupation: Businessman, known for petroleum exploration
• Nationality: American
• Other Names: Colonel Drake

Career and Achievements

• Early Life: Grew up on family farms in New York and Vermont; worked on railways in New Haven, Connecticut.
• Freemasonry: Drake was a Freemason.

Petroleum Exploration

• First Successful Oil Drilling: First American to successfully drill for oil.
• Seneca Oil Company: Hired by this company to investigate oil seeps in Titusville, PA.
  • Originally called the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company.
• Innovation in Drilling:
  • Used steam engine and iron pipe to drill, preventing borehole collapse.
  • Drilled to a depth of 69.5 feet on August 27, 1859, striking oil.
  • The well produced 25 barrels of oil a day.

Challenges and Impact

• Financial Struggles: Despite pioneering work, Drake did not patent his drilling method and lost his savings to speculation.
• Legacy: His methods initiated the Pennsylvania oil rush and were widely imitated.
• Recognition: Pennsylvania awarded him an annuity for his contributions.

Legacy and Memorials

• Drake Well Museum: Opened in 1934 in Titusville, PA.
• Cultural Depictions:
  • Portrayed by Vincent Price in "Born In Freedom".
  • Featured in "Lucky Luke" and "The Great Adventure".

Death and Memorial

• Death: November 9, 1880, in Bethlehem, PA.
• Burial: Interred in Titusville, PA, with a memorial in his honor.

Additional Resources

• References to notable articles and citations related to Drake's life and the history of oil drilling.