Died On This Date - Feb. 28

Smith, Mike
b. December 6, 1943 d. February 28, 2008
Musician. A native of London, he was best known as the lead singer and keyboardist for the 1960s British rock band The Dave Clark Five. Formed in Tottenham, England, the group had top ten hits with "Glad All Over", "Bits And Pieces", "Because", "Can't You See That She's Mine", "I Like It Like That", and was the subject of John Boorman's documentary "Catch Us If You Can" (1965). They disbanded in 1970.

Brown, Daniel Russell
b. March 28, 1848 d. February 28, 1919
Rhode Island Governor. A successful businessman and banker, he was elected to the Providence, Rhode Island City Council when he was only 24 years of age. He declined the Republican nomination for Mayor of Providence in 1885, but served as a Republican presidential elector in 1888. He was elected Governor of Rhode Island in 1892, and served two terms from 1893 to 1897. After leaving office he resumed his former business pursuits.

Rogers, George Clarke
b. November 22, 1839 d. February 28, 1915
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Served in the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "meritorious services".

Anderson, Eddie (Edmund) Lincoln 'Rochester'
b. September 18, 1905 d. February 28, 1977
Actor. He is best remembered for his role of ‘Rochester Van Jones', on the "Jack Benny Show". The son of a minstrel, Big Ed Anderson, and a circus tightrope walker, Ella May Anderson, Eddie was born into a show business family, where he joined his brother, Cornelius, in a vaudeville troop. For a while, he played bit roles in movies, including the role of ‘Noah' in "The Green Pastures" (1936), which led to his role with Jack Benny on his radio program in 1937.

Stockton, Richard
b. October 1, 1730 d. February 28, 1781
Signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, to a wealthy family. He grew up at Morven, the family estate, and attended Princeton University, graduating in 1748. He had studied law, and set up a law practice. In 1755, he married Annis Boudinot, with whom he would have six children.

Smith, William Farrar 'Baldy'
b. February 17, 1824 d. February 28, 1903
Civil War Union Major General. Fought in Peninsula campaign, Seven Days battles, South Mountain, Antietam, commanded VI Corps at Fredericksburg, Chattanooga, Petersburg, and commanded XVIII Corps in VA and NC.

Willis, John Harlan
b. June 10, 1921 d. February 28, 1945
WW II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Served as Platoon Corpsman with the 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division during operations against Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. In action at Hill 362 on February 28, 1945 he administered first aid to the many wounded marines until he himself was struck by shrapnel and was ordered back to the aid station. With no medical release he quickly returned to his company to help wounded.

Pearsall, Uri Balcom
b. July 17, 1840 d. February 28, 1907
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Served in the Civil War first as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 99th United States Colored Troops before becoming the Colonel and commander of the 48th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "meritorious services during the war".

Stallings, Laurence Tucker
b. November 24, 1894 d. February 28, 1968
Screenwriter. Stallings lost his leg fighting in WWI, and wrote "What Price Glory" about his deep anti-war feelings. The spirit of the play is subverted in the film adaptations. His more than two dozen writing credits include "Old Ironsides" (1926), "Billy the Kid" (1930), "Too Hot to Handle" (1938), "Northwest Passage" (1940), "Christmas Eve" (1947), and "The Sun Shines Bright."

Roebling, Emily
b. September 23, 1843 d. February 28, 1903
Key Figure in the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Emily Warren was born the second youngest of twelve children of Sylvanus and Phebe Lickley Warren, and sister to Gouverneur Kemble (G.K.) Warren, 13 years her senior. After their father's death in 1859, G.K., an army officer and West Point graduate, took an interest in helping to raise and educate Emily. While on a visit with G.K., Emily attended a military ball where she met Washington A. Roebling, an engineering officer who served with her.

Molbone (Malbourne), Archibald (Archibald)
b. May 3, 1840 d. February 28, 1912
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the Union Army as a Sergeant in Company G, 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Light Artillery. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Petersburg, Virginia on April 2, 1865. His citation reads "Was one of a detachment of 20 picked artillerymen who voluntarily accompanied an infantry assaulting party and who turned upon the enemy the guns captured in the assault." His true nam was spelled "Malbourne".

Kellaway, Cecil b.
August 22, 1890 d. February 28, 1973
South African-born motion picture and television actor of the 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Nominated for two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor for "Luck of the Irish" (1948) and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1968). Cousin of actors Edmund Gwenn and
Arthur Chesney.

Keeler (Keeler), Ruby (Ethel)
b. August 25, 1909 d. February 28, 1993
Actress, Dancer. Ruby Keeler, who appeared in some of Hollywood's best known golden age musicals, was born Ethel Hilda Keeler on August 25, 1909 (sometimes shown as 1910). Her family moved to New York where she learned tap and popular dance before leaving school entirely to dance in nightclubs and on Broadway. It was at one of these nightclubs where she met future husband Al Jolson. Following their 1928 marriage, she moved to Hollywood where she signed with Warner Brothers.