Samuel Colt was an American manufacturer and inventor who lived from July 19, 1814, to January 10, 1862. He is best known today for developing the six-barreled Colt handgun, also known as the "revolver," which has become one of the most iconic firearm designs in history. He greatly popularized the use of interchangeable parts, assembly lines, and straightforward gun designs as the founder of "Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company," which is now known as "Colt's Manufacturing Company," making him one of the most well-known and prosperous industrialists of his era. Many historians contend that his accomplishments and contributions in the area of military hardware prepared the ground for the growth of American dominance on a global scale.