The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Drake, Edwin Laurentine
181980, American oil well driller, b. Greene co., N.Y. In 1858 he was employed to conduct drilling operations and on Aug. 27, 1859, he struck oil near Titusville, Pa., at a depth of 69 ft (21.1 m). Drakes was the first producing oil well in the United States.