The phrase "In the Limelight" refers to someone who is the centre of attention. It is a fairly innocuous phrase but it has an interesting etymology (well I think).

Limelight - the process whereby lime is used to create light -was discovered by Goldsworthy Gurney in the 1820s.
![Goldsworthy_Gurney_-_PD-OLD.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaW3dGPQH6PLp6zjqW1JW57EasVEMVfA5cLvqfjx4n5Ao/Goldsworthy_Gurney_-_PD-OLD.jpg)
He discovered that an intense white light is produced by heating a piece of lime in a flame of burning oxygen and hydrogen.
The idea was perfected by Thomas Drummond in 1825 which resulted in the Drummond Lamp.
![Limelight_diagram.svg.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUTswbYD1qXidG42DWNMrT2HGUboWgeGPksYtFRVVcAZd/Limelight_diagram.svg.png)
This was widely used in 19th century theatres to illuminate the stage and was first used in a public theatre at Covent Garden in London in 1837. **Clearly, actors who were the centre of attention on stage were said to be in the limelight.**
A quote from the New York Times, July 1902:
_"William S. Devery was in the limelight last evening. Tens of thousands of people of the district crowded the streets in the neighborhood and shouted the name of the ex-Chief of Police of New York."_

[This](https://youtu.be/4Iw6Hzu0hcQ) video show the brightness of **limelight**. [link]