Augustus Eliot Folger

1852 - 1939  (87 years)  Submit Photo / Document

• Name	Augustus Eliot Folger
  Born	10 Feb 1852	Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts
  Gender	Male
  Also Known As	Whale Oil Gus
  Occupation	He signed on the whaling bark "Mount Wollaston" departing New Bedford for the Pacific in 1867 under Nantucket Captain Edward B. Coffin. When the Mount Wollaston returned to port four years later, he shipped out on the "Draco" on a three-year Atlantic voyage, followed by a two-year voyage on the "Callao" to the Indian Ocean. e then became an entertainer singing and lecturing about his whaling experience.
  		Thar She Blows! (11) While many cultures and countries engaged in whaling this page is concerned with the history of the New England whaling industry. In no way should this be seen to justify modern whaling. Commercial whaling in the United States began in the 17th century in New England. The industry peaked in 1846–1852 when the availability of petrochemicals and over-hunting made the practice increasingly impractical. At one time whale oil was absolutely necessary. It's main uses were for household lighting and lubrication of machinery. There were alternatives to whale oil, but they were inferior in performance and cleanliness of burn. While the oil was the primary driver there were secondary products. The baleen some whales used to strain food from the sea were a secondary harvest. They were used in applications that would be accomplished in the modern world with plastic or steel. Simply put whale hunting allowed civilization to grow and prosper.
  Died	13 Sep 1939	Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
  Buried	17 Oct 2021	Prospect Hill Cemetery, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States
  	After he died Augustus's cremated remains were sent back to Nantucket, addressed to Harry B. Turner, the editor and publisher of The Inquirer and Mirror. His wish was to be buried with his parents. The newspaper published that the wish had been fulfilled. What actually happened was Folger's remains were tuned over to the Lewis Funeral Home. There was confusion as to who Folger's parents were. No burial plot could be located so, interment took place. Folger's remains spent the next 82 years on a shelf.
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I61849	Nagel
  Last Modified	15 Jun 2022

  
  

  Father	Henry B Folger,   b. Apr 1817, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 9 Sep 1875, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts  (Age ~ 58 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Lydia C Rawson,   b. 1828, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts
  Relationship	Birth
  Married	14 Apr 1841	Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts
  Family ID	F18776	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 10 Feb 1852 - Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts Died - 13 Sep 1939 - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Buried - 17 Oct 2021 - Prospect Hill Cemetery, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Whale Oil Gus. Augustus Eliot Folger posing by the sculpture "The Whaleman" at the new Bedford, Massachusetts Library. Bela Lyon Pratt was the sculptor.