Historedia
Person

James Townsend

Events
1
Episodes
4
Years
1859–1861

Every event in Historedia whose sources name James Townsend, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Edwin Drake drills the first US oil well at Titusville

    1859–1861

    Role: President of Seneca Oil

    1. 1859-1861 · Oil Creek valleyOil Rush Impact

      The success of the Drake Well sparked the first oil boom, causing rapid expansion in Titusville and market volatility.

    2. April to August 1859 · Drake's drilling siteFinancial Struggle

      Drake faced financial difficulties, taking a $500 loan in 1859 after his colleagues gave up on finding oil.

    3. August 27, 1859 · Oil Creek valleyDrake Drills First Commercial Well

      Edwin Drake drilled the first commercial oil well in the US at Titusville, Pennsylvania, on August 27, 1859, reaching 69.5 feet.

    4. October 1859 · Drake Well siteWell Fire in 1859

      The original structures at the Drake Well caught fire in October 1859 and were rebuilt by Drake a month later.

Sources

  1. Pennsylvania oil rush Wikipedia, revision of 2026-04-21
  2. Edwin Drake Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-27