Born in Birmingham, then part of Warwickshire, in 1839 Mr Hinks took over the family business making oil lamps. In 1865 he patented the duplex burner and extinguisher, which revolutionised oil lamps and was sold around the world.

He built a house after his own design in Kenilworth and went on to become Lord Mayor of Leamington from 1890 to 1893. He and his wife Francis then lived in Milverton Lawn in Warwick, before moving to another specially built house overlooking Warwick Castle gardens in 1907. The couple later moved again to Bournemouth and then Taplow in Buckinghamshire.

Mr Hinks’ wife Frances Ann died on August 5, 1928 but Joseph continued to live at Orkney Cottage in Taplow until he died three years later on April 24, 1931.

Despite looking in all these places, Alfred and Eve Hinks can find no trace of his grave.

Miss Hinks said: “We have been all across Birmingham, Leamington, Warwick and Buckinghamshire, but so far have found no records of his final resting place.

“It’s unbelievable that nobody knows the burial place of someone of this stature.”

There are reports that Joseph is buried in Birmingham’s Key Hill cemetery but no official records point to him being there, the only record of a burial being that of his brother James.

The family is hoping to find the grave of his wife Frances Ann Hinks, in the belief that he may be buried alongside her. Anyone with information should call 0121 628 5260 or email: eve@pictastic.co.uk