Died On This Date - Feb. 14

Cook, James
b. October 27, 1728 d. February 14, 1779
Navigator, Explorer, Mapmaker. Mapped the coast of Newfoundland and later explored much of the Pacific basin. "Discovered" Hawaii in 1778 and named them the Sandwich Islands, after the voyage's sponsor, the Earl of Sandwich. On a later visit he was killed by native Hawaiians. It is presumed that his bones were later given to the Royal Navy and returned to Britain.

Sitman, William S.
b. August 9, 1923 d. February 14, 1951
Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army in Company A, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on February 14, 1951 near Chipyong-ni, Korea. He was killed in action. His citation in part reads "In the ensuing action, the enemy lobbed a grenade into the position and Sfc. Sitman, fully aware of the odds against him, selflessly threw himself on it, absorbing the full force of the attack.

Sherman, William Tecumseh
b. February 8, 1820 d. February 14, 1891
Civil War General, businessman, and author. General Sherman led an army of sixty-two thousand men with thirty-five thousand horses and twenty-five hundred wagons on an overland march to Savannah on a mission to punish the south for its secession from the union. He cut his army off from the union supply line allowing the troops to forage and sustain them self by feeding off the land. From Savannah, a swath of utter destruction was left by Shermans Army.

Mullen, Patrick
b. May 6, 1844 d. February 14, 1897
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Double Recipient. His true name was Mullin, and he was one of a handful of United States military personnel to be awarded two Medals of Honor. The first award was for action during the Civil War while he served as a Boatswain's Mate in the Union Navy. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Mattox Creek, Virginia. His citation reads "Served as boatswain's mate on board the "USS Wyandank" during a boat expedition up Mattox Creek, 17 March 1865.

Horton, William C.
b. July 21, 1876 d. February 14, 1969
Boxer Rebellion Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the American Chinese Relief Expedition during the Boxer Rebellion as a Private in the United States Marine Corps. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Peking, China. His citation reads "In action against the enemy at Peking, China, 21 July to 17 August 1900. Although under heavy fire from the enemy, Horton assisted in the erection of barricades". His Medal was issued on July 19, 1901.

Hincks, Edward Winslow
b. May 30, 1830 d. February 14, 1894
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Bucksport, Maine, he received a common school education, then traveled to Bangor to became a printer. He dropped the "c" from his family name in early life but reinstated it in 1871. In 1849 he moved to Boston, attained prominence, and by 1855 was a member of the Massachusetts legislature, and the city council. The following year he was appointed to a position in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Stokes, John S.
b. June 12, 1871 d. February 14, 1923
Philippine Insurrection Medal of Honor Recipient. He was serving as Chief Master-at-Arms in the United States Navy when he earned his Medal. His citation reads: On board the U.S.S. New York off the coast of Jamaica, 31 March 1899. Showing gallant conduct, Stokes jumped overboard and assisted in the rescue of Peter Mahoney, watertender, U.S. Navy. He was awarded his Medal on July 29, 1899.

Sweatt, Joseph Sewell-Gerrish
b. October 23, 1843 d. February 14, 1914
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a prisoner of war. He served as a Private in the Union Army in Company C, 6th Massachusetts Infantry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on May 15, 1863 at Carrsville, Virginia. His citation reads "When ordered to retreat, this soldier turned and rushed back to the front, in the face of heavy fire from the enemy, in an endeavor to rescue his wounded comrades, remaining by them until overpowered and taken prisoner."

Dodds, Warren 'Baby' b.
December 24, 1898 d. February 14, 1959
Jazz Drummer. He was the younger brother of jazz clarinetist Johnny Dodds. Baby Dodds was one of first great drummers of Jazz and the brother of Johnny Dodds. Baby got his start playing in parades in New Orleans, occasionally with Frankie Dusen's Eagle Band. He played briefly with his brother in Kid Ory's Band, but was embarrassed when all the musicians walked off stage because of his poor playing. This incident spurred him on to become a better musician.

Wodehouse, P.G. (Pelham Grenville)
b. October 15, 1881 d. February 14, 1975
English-born comic novelist, short-story writer, lyricist, and playwright, best known as the creator of Jeeves, the supreme 'gentleman's gentleman.' He wrote more than 90 books and more than 20 film scripts and collaborated on more than 30 plays and musical comedies.

Gilmour, Sutherland Campbell 'Suddie'
b. 1884 d. February 14, 1932
Professional Hockey Player. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, he was the brother of hockey players, David Gordon Gilmour and Hamilton Livingstone 'Billy Gilmour. Along with his two brothers and four others he was a member of the Ottawa Silver Seven club, later the Ottawa Senators from 1903 to 1904. Gilmour played the position of Left Wing and was a talented stick handler and skater as well. In 1903 and 1904 he helped his team win two Stanley Cup games.

Card, Benjamin Cozzens
b. February 15, 1825 d. February 14, 1916
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. At the beginning of the Civil War he was appointed to the United States Regular Army's Quartermaster Department duelly as a 1st Lieutenant in the 12th United States Regular Infantry (to give him Regular Army athority) and a Captain of United States Volunteers. Eventually promoted to Colonel, US Volunteers, his war duties included being Chief of the 7th Division (Military Trains and Incendental Allowances".

Landis, Dr. Eugene Markley
b. April 4, 1901 d. February 14, 1987
Cardiovascular Physiologist. He was the first person to design a method of measuring the blood pressure in the capillary system and wrote more than 130 publications on the subject. His work with Ernest Starling resulted in the Starling-Landis equation for capillary filtration. In his career he was a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia, Professor of Physiology at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct Professor of Biology at Lehigh University. He also served as President.

Smallwood, William
b. 1732 d. February 14, 1792
Revolutionary War Army Officer, Maryland Governor. Smallwood was educated in England and Maryland and became a tobacco farmer and merchant. He was elected to Maryland's colonial legislature in 1760, serving until 1775. At the start of the Revolution he commanded the first Maryland battalion to join the Continental Army. Smallwood's unit saw action at the Battle of Long Island, where a rearguard action of Maryland and Delaware soldiers prevented the destruction of the Army.

Sabine, Dr. Andrew
b. January 11, 1831 d. February 14, 1915
Dr. Andrew Sabine was one of the four regiment Field Officers of the 76th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and he is credited with the first use of anesthesia on the battlefield during the Civil War. Dr. Andrew Sabine came to Garden City, Kansas, on July 1, 1884, from Marysville, Ohio. He was a thoroughly competent, and an educated physician and surgeon, and had the respect of virtually every soldier that he came into contact with.

Bausch, John Jacob
b. July 25, 1830 d. February 14, 1926
Businessman. He was a co-founder of Bausch And Lomb, Incorporated.