Chapter 19

SAMUEL COLT.

Birth and parentage--A restless boy--Dislikes school--Early fondness for mechanical inventions--Is sent to boarding-school--Runs away to sea--The story of a boy's invention, and what came of it--Origin of the revolver--Returns home--His chemical studies--Dr. Coult--The lecturing tour--His success--Completes his design for the revolver--Patents his invention--Visits England--Discovery at the Tower of London--Returns home--Formation of the "Patent Arms Company"--Objections of the officers of the army and navy to the revolver--The Florida War--It is decided by the revolver--Triumph of Col. Colt--Cessation of the demand for arms--Failure of the company--Beginning of the Mexican War--Action of General Taylor--No revolvers to be had--A strange dilemma for an inventor--The new model--Contracts with the Government--Success of the revolver in Mexico--The demand from the frontier--Emigration to California and Australia--Permanent establishment of Col. Colt's business--The improved weapon--Builds a new armory--Description of his works at Hartford--A liberal employer--Other inventions of Col. Colt--His submarine telegraph--His fortune--His marriage--Visits to Europe--Attentions from European dignitaries--Witnesses the coronation of the Emperor of Russia--His last illness and death.