How was fossil fuels discovered?

Answer 1

Joseph Fourier discovered the greenhouse effect back in 1824. Fourier looked at some of the experimental data available at the time and worked out that the Earth gets most of its energy from solar radiation (predominately, the sun). He thought that gases were responsible for absorbing the radiation and warming the earth. He was one of the first scientists who stated that the energy on the earth came from numerous sources.

Answer 2

I will comment on the three main sources of fossil fuel: oil, natural gas and coal. The early use of fossil fuels must rely on scant evidence. The date of "first use" is very approximate and is really the first known use based on the archiological evidence. Oil- used over 4,000 years ago in the Middle East (Babylon) for medicine and lighting. Of course, oil was from natural seeps. First commercial well was in 1857 in Romania, followed by Drake's well in Pennsylvania in 1859. Gas- Again, an ancient source of energy, first used in China in 1000 BC, as fuel (I suppose cooking and heating). Also believed to be the source of eternal flames in temples. Gas taken from shallow deposits. Coal- Most ancient of all fuel sources, perhaps used in 4000 BC in China, used during Bronze age in England. I've included three links corresponding to natural gas, oil and coal historical use. What is common to all these is that they were convenient sources of energy for basic needs. Coal was used for thousands of years, but had little value until the high middle ages (> 1000 AD) when coal was used in first bronze and then iron smelting. Beginning in the 1900's, our energy needs soared with the internal combustion engine and the search for untapped supplies became much more difficult.