Final answer:
The inventor of the repeating rifle in the 1860s is not specified, but R. J. Gatling was a significant figure who patented the early type of machine gun, the Gatling gun. Eli Whitney's contributions to manufacturing firearms with interchangeable parts were also essential in the advancement of weaponry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual credited with the invention of the repeating rifle in the 1860s is not explicitly named in the information provided. However, it is important to note a key inventor in the era of rapid-fire guns was R. J. Gatling, who patented the Gatling gun, an early type of machine gun, in 1865. This invention operated on a similar principle to later repeating rifles, allowing for rapid fire without needing to reload after each shot. The Gatling gun was one of the technological advancements in weaponry during the 19th century that granted European and American forces a significant advantage in conflicts, particularly as they expanded their empires. It's also noteworthy to mention that Eli Whitney influenced firearm production through his technique of using machine tools to produce interchangeable parts, which increased the reliability and lowered the cost of firearms.
However, it's important to not confuse the Gatling gun with the Maxim gun, which was the first recoil-operated machine gun, invented by Hiram Maxim in the 1880s. Maxim's invention could fire 600 rounds per minute and represented a significant advancement in automatic weapons technology.