Died On This Date: Mar 11

Fleming, Alexander
b. August 6, 1881 d. March 11, 1955Scientist, Medical Pioneer. Sir Fleming's best known accomplishment was his discovery of penicillin.

Mayer, Oscar
b. March 29, 1859 d. March 11, 1955Business Magnate. Oscar F. Mayer was born in the Bavaria section of Germany. In 1873, at the age of 14, the family grocery business failed, and Oscar came to the United States with his cousin. Settling in Detroit, he answered an ad and took a job as an apprentice with George Weber's Retail Meat Market. He stayed there for three years until 1876, when the he moved to Chicago to work at the Kohlhammer meat market, and also at the Armour meat packing company (located in the stockyards).

Andrews, Roy Chapman
b. January 26, 1884 d. March 11, 1960
Scientist. An archaeologist and explorer, he was the first to find dinosaur eggs, which he discovered in the Gobi Desert. He became the curator of the Museum of Natural History in New York. He lived his early years in Beloit, Wisconsin, attended Beloit College, and "Ever since I remember I always intended to be a naturalist and explorer. Nothing else ever had a place in my mind". It is widely believed that he was the real-life model for the film character, Indiana Jones.

Byrd Jr., Richard Evelyn
b. October 25, 1888 d. March 11, 1957Aviator, Polar Explorer, Medal of Honor Recipient, Rear Admiral, United States Navy. Born in Winchester, Virginia, he attended the University of Virginia before entering the United States Naval Academy, graduating there in 1912. Because of a leg injury he received while captain of the academy gymnastics team, the Navy in 1915 determined that he was physically unable to serve, therefore he was forced to retire. Due to the United States' entry into World War I, he returned to serving in the Navy.

Sullivan, Edward
b. May 16, 1870 d. March 11, 1955
Spanish-American War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Cork, Ireland, he served in the United States Marine Corps during the War with Spain as a Corporal on board the "USS Marblehead". He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery during the cutting of the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, on May 11, 1898. His citation reads "Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Sullivan set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action."

Andervont, Howard B.
b. 1899 d. March 11, 1981
Medical Pioneer. Virologist and cancer researcher who directed early studies linking cancer and filterable viruses.

Schnabel, Stefan
b. February 2, 1912 d. March 11, 1999
Actor: He played Dr. Stephen Jackson from 1965 to 1981 on Guiding Light in New York City. He was the son of classical pianist, Artur Schnabel. He and his wife had lived for 45 years in Rowayton, Connecticut before moving to Rogaro, Italy, in 1992. His family left Berlin when the Nazi regime came to power in 1933. He studied acting in London and the Old Vic Theatre. He was featured in Laurence Olivier's first production of "Hamlet" and "Major Barbara."

Gardner, Erle Stanley
b. July 17, 1889 d. March 11, 1970Author. He created the character of lawyer "Perry Mason". Born in Malden, Massachusetts, his parents moved to Portland, Oregon, then to the San Francisco Bay area where he graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1909. He never had any formal training in law. In fact, after only a few weeks he was kicked out of the only college he ever attended, Valparaiso University, for being involved in a fistfight. He did, however, work as a typist in a law office in California and in 1911 passed the bar.

Edwards, Vince
b. July 9, 1928 d. March 11, 1996
Actor. Fondly remembered for his title role of 'Ben Casey' in the 1960s television series of the same name. Popular in a multitude of film roles, as well.

West, Benjamin
b. October 10, 1738 d. March 11, 1820
Artist. Born to Quaker parents in Springfield, Pennsylvania, he was the uncle of inventor Samuel F. B. Morse. He was encouraged to draw, and it is said he received his first set of paints from his Indian friends. At the age of 16, his Quaker community approved art training for him, and he studied in Philadelphia and New York City. He served as a militia captain in Indian campaigns in Pennsylvania, then went to study for three years in Italy. In 1763 he went to England, where he stayed.

Williams, Adolphus Wesley
b. May 11, 1830 d. March 11, 1879
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He served during the Civil War first as Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry, then as Colonel and commander of the 20th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services during the war".

Farnsworth, Philo Taylor
b. August 19, 1906 d. March 11, 1971Inventor. He is best remembered for his contributions to television, radar, and the nuclear industry. Born in Beaver, Utah, he became interested in science and technology at age 12, when his father moved the family to Rigby, Idaho, where the family worked a farm. Young Philo’s interest in electronics started with a long distance telephone call to a relative, and was further peaked by the discovery of a large box of technology magazines in the attic of the family’s new home.

Sumner, Charles
b. January 6, 1811 d. March 11, 1874
Civil War US Senator. Elected as a Senator from Massachusetts, serving from 1851 until his death in office in 1874. A staunch and vocal proponent of the Abolitionist movement, he gave a speech dubbed the "Crime Against Kansas" condemning slavery on May 22, 1856, which prompted South Carolina Congressman Preston Brooks to assault and severely injure him.

Leonard, Nellie Mabel
b. October 31, 1875 d. March 11, 1956
Author. She wrote the children's books "The Graymouse Family," "Uncle Squaky's Vacation," "Granddaddy Whiskers, M.D.," and "The Mouse Book."

Kesling, Elmer G.
b. November 17, 1881 d. March 11, 1961
Dentist and inventor. He is the one who moved the gearshift in a car from the floor to the column. He came up with this idea in the 1940's from a patient of his who was an amputee and had difficulty shifting gears with the gearshift on the floor. As a result, Kesling came up with the vacuum transmission which helped to move the gear shift to the column. This allowed the patient to shift gears with his stump rather than having to reach down on the floor with his left arm to shift gears.

Farrar, Geraldine
b. February 28, 1882 d. March 11, 1967
Opera singer, soprano. Silent screen actress.