George C. Bunsen, son of the famous German educator, George Bunsen, was a proponent of more humane living conditions for the working men and women of the industrial era. He edited a paper entitled, "The Reformer" and was the Secretary for numerous benevolent associations. He was also an inventor. He was awarded U. S. Patent #51690 for the "Revolving Firearm" on December 26, 1865. "The stock of the arm is made hollow, and contains a system of gear or toothed wheels driven by a coiled spring, by which the various operations of revolving the cylinder, discharging the hammer, etc. are accomplished upon pulling the trigger."