Benjamin B. Hotchkiss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss
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| Born |
Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss
October 1, 1826 |
| Died | February 14, 1885 (aged 58) Paris, France
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| Resting place | Hillside Cemetery, Sharon, Connecticut |
| Occupation | Gunsmith, engineer |
| Spouse(s) | Maria Bissell Hotchkiss |
| Parent(s) | Asahel Augustus Hotchkiss Althea Guernsey |
Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss (born October 1, 1826 – died February 14, 1885) was a very important American engineer. He was known for designing and improving weapons and ammunition. He became one of the top experts in his field during his time.
Early Career in America
Benjamin Hotchkiss was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He later moved to Sharon, Connecticut when he was a child. He started his first experiments in his father's hardware factory.
In the 1850s, Hotchkiss worked as a gunmaker in Hartford, Connecticut. He helped create famous firearms like Colt revolvers and Winchester rifles. During the American Civil War, he designed special projectiles for artillery cannons. These were used a lot during the war.
Working in France
After the American Civil War ended, the U.S. government was not very interested in making new weapons. So, in 1867, Hotchkiss moved to France. He started his own weapons factory there.
His company was called Hotchkiss et Cie. It was first in Viviez and then moved to Saint-Denis, near Paris. Around this time, he invented a new type of machine gun. It was called the "canon-revolver" or Hotchkiss gun. This gun had several barrels that spun around. It was made in different sizes, from 37 mm to 57 mm. The largest ones were used on ships.
After Benjamin Hotchkiss passed away, his company kept inventing. In 1897, they created an air-cooled machine gun for soldiers. Many countries, especially France and the United States, used this gun during the First World War.
Personal Life
On May 27, 1850, Benjamin Hotchkiss married Maria Bissell Hotchkiss. After his death, Maria founded two important places. She started The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. She also created the Hotchkiss Library in Sharon, Connecticut.
