On September 30, 1862, U.S. patent No. 36,593 to Theodore Ruggles Timby for a revolving Gun Turret.

When Swedish-born architect John Ericsson built an ironclad warship — the Monitor — for the Union Navy, he incorporated Timby’s gun turret. The Monitor cost $195,000 to build, and the Union Navy paid $270,000. Timby received a 5 percent commission of $13,500 for his turret design.