---
title: Davy Lamp
author: Science Museum, London
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17200/davy-lamp/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-04-20
---

# Davy Lamp

_Authored by Science Museum, London_

## Image File

[![Davy Lamp](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17200.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17200.png)

## Image Caption

A Davy lamp, a safety lamp designed by Humphrey Davy (1778-1820) in 1815 for coal miners. The lamp's flame could not escape the mesh and so did not set alight dangerous gases in mine shafts. In addition, a gauge could tell a miner if such gases had built up to dangerous levels since they reduced the flame inside. The safety lamp saved many lives and miners became dependent on it.

[Science](https://www.worldhistory.org/science/) Museum, London.

## Cite This Work

### APA
London, S. M. (2023, March 16). Davy Lamp. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17200/davy-lamp/>
### Chicago
London, Science Museum,. "Davy Lamp." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 16, 2023. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17200/davy-lamp/>.
### MLA
London, Science Museum,. "Davy Lamp." *World History Encyclopedia*, 16 Mar 2023, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17200/davy-lamp/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co44054/davy-lamp-with-shield-1820-1860-oil-lamp-miners-lamps-miners-safety-lamps) by **Science Museum, London**. Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 16 March 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.