The Maxim gun is a type of machine gun invented by Sir Hiram Maxim in 1884. It was one of the first fully automatic firearms, capable of firing up to 600 rounds per minute. The gun used a water-cooling system to prevent overheating during sustained fire, making it effective in battle. The Maxim gun played a significant role in various conflicts, including the Second Boer War and World War I. Its design influenced many future machine guns, establishing a new standard for military weaponry. The gun's effectiveness changed warfare tactics, emphasizing the importance of rapid-fire weapons on the battlefield.