February 4

Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim was born on the 4th in 1840 in Sangerville, Maine. In the 1880s, he moved to England. He was someone in whom the quirky nature of his make-up is clearly illustrated by his accomplishments. He was very good at inventing killing machines, inventing the first portable machine gun in 1881, as well as the ubiquitous mousetrap. His most successful invention, however, was his ‘Captive Flying Machine’ an amusement ride which was incredibly popular. So popular in fact that it earned for him the Sir in his name.