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Death of Sharps

Christian Sharps died aged 64 in Hartford, March 12, . The brief obituary in the Hartford Courant for Sunday, March 14, contains a sentence which, for reasons still not clear, must be his epitaph:
As an inventor he was one of the greatest, not confining himself to firearms—though he produced several models—but covering the peaceful arts as well, and in whatever he undertook in this direction he displayed a great fertility of resource; yet somehow failed to secure a decided practical advantage out of any of the valuable products of his brain-work.
In Philadelphia, scene of his last gunmaking activities, the papers noted this failing, saying he “never derived from his inventions the pecuniary share to which he was entitled.” Inventor of the most famous breech-loading rifle in the world, though produced in far fewer numbers than some more financially successful, Christian Sharps at his death was described as a man of peace, “a decided spiritualist,” without the slightest fear of death. He left behind his wife, Sarah, a daughter, Satella, a son, Leon Stewart Sharps, and an estate of $341.25.

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