Winsor, Frederic Albert (1763–1830)

German inventor, one of the pioneers of gas lighting in the UK and France.

Winsor was born in Brunswick. He went to Britain before 1799 and became interested in the technology and economics of fuels. In 1802 he went to Paris to investigate the ‘thermo-lamp’ which French engineer Philippe Lebon had patented in 1799. Returning to Britain, he started a gasworks and in 1807 lit one side of Pall Mall, London, with gas lamps. In 1804–09 he was granted various patents for gas furnaces and purifiers.

His application to Parliament for a charter for the Light and Heat Company failed. The bill was thrown out but the Gas-Light and Coke Company was finally incorporated, with the blessing of Parliament, in 1812, although this time Winsor was not involved. Winsor once more moved to France, but in Paris his company made little progress and was liquidated 1819.

The distilling retort Winsor used consisted of an iron pot with a fitted lid. The lid had a pipe in the centre leading to the conical condensing vessel, which was compartmented inside with perforated divisions to spread the gas to purify it of hydrogen sulphide and ammonia. The device was not very successful, and the gas being burned was impure and emitted a pungent smell.

Winsor published Description of the Thermo-lamp Invented by Lebon of Paris 1802, Analogy between Animal and Vegetable Life, Demonstrating the Beneficial Application of the Patent Light Stoves to all Green and Hot Houses 1807, and others.