Final answer:
Natural gas was first used for street lighting in London, marking a significant development in the Second Industrial Revolution. Gas lighting became widespread in the 19th century before electric lighting came to prominence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Natural gas was first used for lighting streets in London. During the Second Industrial Revolution, innovative methods of lighting such as gas and electric lights were introduced. London foresaw the transition from traditional candles and kerosene lamps to more advanced forms of lighting when it installed its first gas streetlights in 1807.
This marked a significant milestone as it paved the way for the eventual widespread use of gas lighting in cities, homes, and workplaces throughout the century. By the 1880s, the use of gas for both illumination and heating had become a reliable resource for British families.
The following years saw the advent of electric lighting, surpassing gas in terms of clarity, brightness, and safety, with Paris installing electric streetlights in 1875.