When Was the Internal Combustion Engine Invented?

There is no single date: the earliest working internal combustion engine appeared in 1807 (François Isaac de Rivaz), the first commercially successful engine arrived in 1859–1860 (Étienne Lenoir), and the modern four-stroke design was achieved in 1876 (Nikolaus Otto). The answer depends on whether you mean the first functioning device, the first engine sold in numbers, or the design that underpins most gasoline engines today.

How the Idea Evolved

Internal combustion—burning fuel within a cylinder to create power—emerged over centuries from speculative concepts to practical machines. Early notions in the 17th century envisioned using explosive gases, but it took the 19th century’s advances in metallurgy, chemistry, and industrial manufacturing to produce engines that could run reliably and be built at scale. By the late 1800s, internal combustion engines had surpassed steam for many transport applications, setting the stage for modern automobiles and aircraft.

Milestones in the Invention of the Internal Combustion Engine

The following timeline highlights the key steps that historians and engineers typically cite when discussing the invention and maturation of the internal combustion engine. Each milestone reflects a distinct leap: from concept, to first working machines, to commercial success, and finally to the designs that define modern engine technology.

• 1673–1680: Christiaan Huygens (and others) propose gunpowder-fueled “internal explosion” devices—conceptual precursors rather than practical engines.
• 1807–1808: François Isaac de Rivaz builds a hydrogen–oxygen internal combustion engine and mounts it in a rudimentary carriage—an early, working IC engine.
• 1823–1826: Samuel Brown patents a gas-fueled internal combustion “vacuum” engine and demonstrates vehicle propulsion up Shooter’s Hill in London.
• 1859–1860: Étienne Lenoir develops the first commercially successful internal combustion engine (non-compression, coal-gas fueled), with thousands produced in the 1860s.
• 1862: Alphonse Beau de Rochas patents the four-stroke cycle principles—intake, compression, power, exhaust—providing the blueprint for efficient engines.
• 1864–1867: Nikolaus Otto and Eugen Langen market an “atmospheric” engine, winning top honors at the 1867 Paris Exposition and advancing commercial adoption.
• 1876: Nikolaus Otto builds the first practical four-stroke engine (the “Otto cycle”), the foundation of most modern gasoline engines.
• 1885–1886: Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach create high-speed gasoline engines and build the Reitwagen motorcycle (1885) and early motorcars (alongside Karl Benz’s 1885–86 automobile).
• 1893–1897: Rudolf Diesel develops the compression-ignition (diesel) engine, with a successful prototype running in 1897—transforming heavy-duty transport and industry.

Taken together, these milestones show a progression from early experiments to widespread, reliable powerplants. While different dates highlight different breakthroughs, the cumulative arc is what gave the internal combustion engine its world-changing impact.

Why Historians Cite Different Dates

“Invented” can mean several things. If it refers to the first functioning internal combustion device, 1807 is defensible (de Rivaz). If it means a design that found real buyers and steady use, 1859–1860 (Lenoir) fits. If it points to the architecture that powers most gasoline engines, 1876 (Otto’s four-stroke) is the standard. Each date answers a slightly different question about invention: conception, commercialization, or modernity.

What Most Sources Mean by “Invented”

In general histories and engineering texts, the internal combustion engine is most often anchored to two dates: 1859–1860 for the first commercially successful engine (Lenoir) and 1876 for the modern four-stroke gasoline engine (Otto). For completeness, specialists also note de Rivaz’s 1807 machine as the earliest working example. Clarifying which milestone you care about will determine the “right” date.

Impact and Legacy

From cars and trucks to ships, aircraft, and farm equipment, internal combustion engines reshaped mobility, logistics, and agriculture, compressing distances and transforming economies. They also set the stage for 20th-century urbanization and, more recently, for the climate challenges that are accelerating the shift toward electrification and cleaner fuels. Understanding the engine’s layered invention helps explain its enduring influence and the complexity of replacing it.

Summary

The internal combustion engine doesn’t have a single birthdate. The first working example appeared in 1807 (de Rivaz), the first commercially successful engine arrived in 1859–1860 (Lenoir), and the modern four-stroke design emerged in 1876 (Otto). Which date you choose depends on whether you prioritize earliest function, commercial viability, or the architecture that still underlies most gasoline engines.

What did cars run on before gasoline?

How did the first cars work? A steam car burned fuel that heated water in a boiler. This process made steam that expanded and pushed pistons, which turned a crankshaft. An electric car had a battery that powered a small electric motor, which turned a drive shaft.

Who invented the internal combustion engine in 1885?

Gottlieb Daimler
In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler, with the help of Wilhelm Maybach, developed the forerunner of the modern gas engine by advancing Nicolaus Otto’s oil-powered design. Adapting the engine to a stagecoach, Daimler successfully designed the world’s first four-wheeled automobile.

What is the oldest internal combustion car?

The Benz Patent-Motorwagen
1885: The Benz Patent-Motorwagen – often considered to be the first automobile – is built. It was powered by a 0.55 kW (0.74 hp) single-cylinder four-stroke engine.

When did Henry Ford invent the internal combustion engine?

24, 1893
Summary. Henry Ford built his first experimental engine using scrap metal for parts. He tested it on the kitchen sink after supper on December 24, 1893. For ignition he ran a wire from the ceiling’s light bulb.