William Reid Clanny interest in safe lamp research began before Davy’s involvment in 1815 and continued well after. The lamp that bears his name was invented in 1839 and was in fact his sixth lamp. The invention of the lamp and the innovative use of glass were significant steps in the development of the flame-safety lamp. The lamp was safer in draughts and a considerable improvement in illumination, giving almost double the light of the standard Davy lamp.