Edwin Drake, full name Edwin Laurentine Drake, was the driller of the first producing oil well in the United States. He was born on March 29, 1819 in Greenville, New York, and died on November 8, 1880 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His body was returned to Greenville for burial. He graduated from Greenville Academy in 1838 at the age of 16. After teaching school for a few years, he moved to Ohio where he worked as a clerk until the outbreak of the American Civil War. During that time he became interested in exploring underground coal formations that were thought to be near-endless. The idea of deep mining for iron ore had also come up during this time. In 1865, after the war ended, Drake decided to move back to West Virginia and start a new life there. He bought some land and began drilling holes in search of coal and metal ores. In late 1870 or early 1871, he hit oil. It is estimated that he used about 200 barrels (9 m3) of oil before moving on to another location. However, it turned out to be only the beginning of America's oil boom. Within months more than 300 wells were being drilled all over the country. Only a few included actual drilling machines.