Watt and Boulton were constantly suggesting new things, and Murdock became possessed by the same spirit.

In 1791 he took out his first patent.

It was for a method of preserving ships' bottoms from foulness by the use of a certain kind of chemical paint.
Mr.Murdock's grandson informs us that it was recently re-patented and was the cause of a lawsuit, and that Hislop's patent for revivifying gas-lime would have been an infringement, if it had not expired.
Murdock is still better known by his invention of gas for lighting purposes.

Several independent inquirers into the constituents of Newcastle coal had arrived at the conclusion that nearly one-third of the substance was driven off in vapour by the application of heat, and that the vapour so driven off was inflammable.

But no suggestion had been made to apply this vapour for lighting purposes until Murdock took the matter in hand.