To which old profession is this sculpture in Georgia dedicated?

My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky; It’s time to take the window to see Leerie going by; For every night at teatime and before you take your seat, With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street. (From "The Lamplighter" by Robert Louis Stevenson. A favourite childhood poem of mine)

I had no idea that this was a profession. long before my time on Earth.

Back in that era lamps were oil based no electric status Kerosene was crucial we only had candles or oil lamps

I never heard of this...Thanks for the knowledge.