About Alexandre François Selligue
Lived 1784 – 1845 (aged 60). Alexandre François Selligue was a French engineer and printer.
Alexander François Selligue (1784-1845) was a French engineer. His name was in fact Alexandre François Gilles, but he used Selligue as an anagram of Gilles.
In 1832, he together with David Blum patented an application of shale oil for direct illumination. In 1838, he patented "the employment of mineral oils for lighting". His process of distilling bituminous shales (oil shale) was first described in the Journal des Connaissances Usuelles in 1834. This process for the oil shale retorting was first used in Autun, France, in 1838. This is considered the start of the modern oil shale industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Alexandre François Selligue?
French engineer
When was Alexandre François Selligue born?
Alexandre François Selligue was born on 5 October 1784 in Paris.
When did Alexandre François Selligue die?
Alexandre François Selligue died on 11 August 1845 in Paris.
What was Alexandre François Selligue's occupation?
Alexandre François Selligue was an engineer and printer.
What nationality was Alexandre François Selligue?
Alexandre François Selligue was French.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Alexandre François Selligue
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alexandre François Selligue. https://biography.guide/alexandre-francois-selligue/
MLA: "Alexandre François Selligue." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alexandre-francois-selligue/.
Chicago: "Alexandre François Selligue." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alexandre-francois-selligue/.
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