On September 30, 1862, Theodore Ruggles Timby. received U.S. Patent No. 36353 on “a revolving tower for defensive and offensive warfare, whether placed on land or water.”

John Ericsson incorporated Timby’s design when building the ironclad ship, Monitor, the world’s first turret battleship. Timby was paid a royalty for the use of his patent. The great military value of this invention was proven in wartime, and it was soon adopted by other nations.