Crossroads of Curiosity

"The Gatling Gun"

 

David Normal says:

Dr. Richard J. Gatling invented the original machine gun, the eponymous, "Gatling Gun". Later he claimed, "If I could invent a machine--a gun-- which could by its rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred, that it would, to a great extent, supersede the necessity of large armies, and consequently, exposure to battle and disease be greatly diminished."

 

Image taken from page 439 of 'Gately's World's Progress. A general history of the earth's construction and of the advancement of mankind ... Edited by C. E. Beale. Édition de luxe' Collection of the British Library.

View illustration on British Library's Flickr Photostream

 

More Information on BL Collections and the Crossroads of Curiosity Event can be found by clicking here.