Scotland's First Oil Boom: The Scottish Shale Oil Industry, 1851-1914

In surfacing a neglected piece of Scotland’s history, this book tells the history of the development of the Scottish shale-oil industry for the first time. This historical account discusses the discovery of petroleum and details the growth of the shale industry during a time of great change in British society: wages were rising and prices were falling. The account also unveils how the industry identified a new opportunity in the need for adequate, inexpensive artificial light once workers were given more time for leisure activities such as reading. Detailed and captivating, this book demonstrates how the innovation of the shale-oil industry provided a valuable recruiting ground for Scotland’s expertise in oil.