Frederick A. Fitzgerald, the first president of The Imperial Oil Company,
which was founded in London, Ont., in 1880.
1881
The London refinery, one of two refineries owned by the company at the time of
its founding -- the other was in Petrolia, Ont.
1882
Early oil drilling rigs in Southwestern Ontario.
1883
Imperial's first head office, in London, Ont.
1884
Herman Frasch, an Imperial chemist who developed a process for removing
foul-smelling sulphur from kerosene, making it more marketable to consumers.
1885
The Imperial warehouse in Brandon, Man., one of a network of facilities that
enabled settlers in the West to obtain fuel and other products. In so doing,
the warehouses played an important role in the development of the West.
1886
Oil-well pumps in Southwestern Ontario, which was dubbed "Canada's Oil Lands."
1887
Imperial's refinery in Sarnia, Ont., which was acquired from Standard Oil of
New Jersey (now Exxon Mobil Corporation), along with other assets in Canada,
in exchange for a majority interest in Imperial.
1888
Barrels produced at Imperial's own cooperage, which was attached to the
Petrolia refinery.
1889
Mica Axle Grease, a key product for the company in the late 1800s.
