Sir Hiram Maxim posing with his patented machine gun. Born in Sangerville, Maine, Hiram eventually patented over 270 inventions, and is credited with the car muffler, smokeless gun powder, and a self-closing mousetrap. He came by his inventive genius naturally, as his father had an inventive mind. In 1861, Hiram and Ed Fifield opened an agricultural manufactory in Middlesex District making corn shellers, winnowers, etc. He stayed only a year before moving on to greater fame with his machine gun.

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