Gatling
RICHARD JORDAN, an American inventor; born in Hertford co., N. C., Sept. 12, 1818. While a boy he assisted his father in perfecting a machine for sowing cotton seed, and another for thinning out cotton plants. Subsequently he invented a machine for sowing rice. Removing to St. Louis, in 1844, he adapted this invention to sowing wheat in drills. For several winters he attended medical lectures in Cincinnati, and in 1849 removed to Indianapolis, where he engaged in railroad enterprises and real estate speculations. In 1850 he invented a double-acting hemp brake, and in 1857 a steam plow, which, however, he did not bring to any practical result. In 1861 he conceived the idea of the revolving battery gun which bears his name. Of these ne constructed six at Cincinnati, which were destroyed by the burning of his factory.
Afterward he had 12 manufactured elsewhere, which were used by General Butler on the James river. In 1865 he improved his invention, and in the year following, after satisfactory trial, it was adopted into the United States service.
It has also been adopted by several European governments. Died Feb. 23, 1903.