James Miller Williams (1818-1890) established the first commercial oil well in North America in 1858, a year before Edwin L. Drake’s well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. His Canadian Oil Company helped usher in Canada’s first oil boom, making Ontario a significant player in the petroleum industry.
Early Life and Ventures
James, born to Welsh parents in 1818, began his career as a carriage maker in Camden, New Jersey, before immigrating to London, Upper Canada, in 1840. Here, he delved into the carriage manufacturing business, eventually expanding his ventures to Hamilton, where he played a pivotal role in the production of vehicles for public transit and railway cars, operating the successful Hamilton Coach and Carriage Factory alongside H.G. Cooper.
In 1855, James’s diverse entrepreneurial interests led him to acquire the International Mining and Manufacturing Company from Charles Nelson Tripp. James saw the potential in refining petroleum into lamp fuel, marking a pivotal shift in his career and laying the foundations for the burgeoning oil sector in Canada. This acquisition set him on a path that would eventually lead him to become a significant figure in the early oil industry, not just in Canada but in North America.
The First Commercial Oil Well in North America
Historians often assert that Edwin L. Drake’s well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, marked the beginning of the oil industry in 1859. However, the actual beginnings of the oil industry can be traced back to a year earlier, in 1858, when James Miller Williams successfully drilled and produced oil in Enniskillen Township, located between Lake Erie and Lake Huron near the town later named Oil Springs, in what is now Southwest Ontario.
James began his quest for oil on the banks of the Thames River, at Bothwell. Finding no success there, he decided to explore the gum beds of Enniskillen. It was on Black Creek, a tributary of the Sydenham River, where he struck oil. This groundbreaking discovery sparked Canada’s first oil boom and showcased the untapped potential and viability of the Ontario petroleum industry.
James Miller Williams struck gold twice at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, England! He won one gold medal “for introducing an important industry by sinking the artesian wells in the Devonshire Strata for petroleum” and snagged another for “an extensive exhibition of the derivatives of petroleum.” Quite the golden achievement!
The Canadian Oil Company
James established a refinery on Black Creek’s banks, creating North America’s first oil company, J. M. Williams & Co. By 1861, rebranded as the Canadian Oil Company, it was producing approximately 120 barrels of oil per week and marketing its kerosene as ‘Victoria Oil’ worldwide.
To address logistical challenges, James partnered with W.E. Sanborne and Andrew Elliot to form the Black Creek Plank Road Company in late 1860. This venture was pivotal in developing infrastructure to transport crude from Enniskillen Township, stimulating the local oil industry’s growth. The plank road connected Oil Springs, the “Oil Capital of the World,” to Sarnia, facilitating the transport of crude oil to various refining centers and becoming a principal route between Sarnia and central Lambton County.
Political Life and Legacy
On this day in 1958, James Miller Williams (1818-1890) was commemorated with a Canada Post postage stamp celebrating his pioneering contributions to the Canadian oil industry and his impact on Canada’s economic development.
James, having established financial security in the oil business, next ventured into politics. First elected as an alderman in Hamilton, he later represented Hamilton in the Ontario legislature as the Liberal member in 1867, 1871, and 1875. After retiring from politics in 1879, he became the registrar of Wentworth County, holding the position until his death in November 1890.
During his era, James initiated the first oil boom in North America. The innovations in oil drilling technology from this period were disseminated worldwide, and many original oil and refining companies established then continue to operate in nearby Sarnia. Remarkably, around 400 wells remain active in the originating fields, with experts suggesting substantial untapped potential remains for increased production.
James Miller Williams was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame in 1997.
Recommended Reading:
- “Who is James Miller Williams? The History of the Petroleum Industry Explored.” Petro Online, 2023.
- “James Miller Williams.” History Alberta.
- “James Miller Williams.” Oil Museum of Canada.
- “First Commercial Oil Well 1858-2008 Canada Postage Stamp.” Postage Stamp Guide.
