Died On This Date: Mar 15

Caesar, Julius
Roman Statesman, General, and Author. A kinsman of Roman Proconsul Gaius Marius, Julius Caesar first rose to fame as a praetorian general, and his campaigns in Spain earned him a term as Consul of the Roman Republic. As his political stature increased (largely because of his personal spending on public events), Caesar became an integral part of Rome's "First Triumvarate" with Crassius and Pompey. This coalition would control most of Roman politics from 60-51 BCE.

Hines, Duncan
b. March 26, 1880 d. March 15, 1959
Businessman. He originally started out writing hospitality books on places to eat and hotel recommendations, and eventually became one of the most trusted name in the hospitality business. He was also featured on Mutual Radio Network and had a daily column in the local Newspaper in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1949, he began working as a public relations representative for Midwestern Food Co-op and later formed Hines-Park. This company began producing food products.

Sargent, Ruppert Leon
b. January 6, 1938 d. March 15, 1967
Viet Nam Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Sargent served as a First Lieutenant, United States Army, Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. He was awarded his medal posthumously for service at Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam, on March 15, 1967. His citation reads-For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Lovecraft, H.P. (Howard Phillips)
b. August 20, 1890 d. March 15, 1937
Author. He is widely noted for his contributions to the genre of science fiction writing when the genre was in its infancy. He learned to read at age three and his favorite book was “the Arabian Nights.” A true prodigy, it’s said that his earliest known work “ The Noble Eavesdropper” was written in 1896. His most beloved subject was astronomy and as a youngster he would “publish” his own newspaper regarding his ideas and stories regarding astronomy and other unusual subjects.

Love, George Maltby
b. January 1, 1831 d. March 15, 1887
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Entered the Union Army as a member of the 21st New York Volunteer Infantry, rising to its Sergeant Major. He was then commissioned a Captain in the 44th New York Volunteer Infantry before becoming Colonel and commander of the 116th New York Volunteer Infantry. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia on December 19, 1864.

Spock, Benjamin
b. May 2, 1903 d. March 15, 1998
Medical Pioneer, Olypmic Athlete. Noted author of Children's Health Books. His 1946 book, "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" would revolutionize how American parents would raise their children. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, the eldest of six children to a prominent attorney and a devoted mother, he quickly grew up helping to care for his younger siblings. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and then Yale University, where he excelled in athletics.

Letterman, Jonathan
b. December 11, 1824 d. March 15, 1872
Civil War Union Army Surgeon, Medical Pioneer. Appointed Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac to change the deplorable condition Union wounded were taken care of. His efforts in improving combat medicine saved thousands who would otherwise have died.

Sothern, Ann
b. January 22, 1909 d. March 15, 2001
Actress. Born in Valley City, North Dakota, as Harriet Lake, her career spanned six decades and included 64 movies and 175 TV episodes. In the 1950's she was in the television series "Private Secretary" and later "The Ann Sothern Show." She received an Oscar nomination in 1988 for best supporting actress in the movie "The Whales of August." She died of heart failure at her home in Ketchum, Idaho.

Ripley, James Wolfe
b. December 10, 1794 d. March 15, 1870
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1814. Served twelve years as Superintendant of the Springfield Armory. The cncle of Confederate Brigadier General Roswell S. Ripley. he was commissioned Brigadier General, US Volunteers on August 3, l86l and served as Inspector of Armament of Forts of the New England Coast until 1869.

West, Rebecca
b. December 21, 1892 d. March 15, 1983
Author, reporter and literary critic. Born Cicily Fairfield, she began writing for The Freewoman under the pseudonym "Rebecca West" (one of Isben's characters) in 1912. Her Life of Henry James, published in 1916, established her reputation as a great writer. She began a liasion with H.G. Wells in 1913, which produced a son (Anthony West) in 1914. She subsequently married banker Henry Andrews in 1930. Her many novels include The Return of the Soldier (1918), The Judge (1922), Harriet Hume (1929).

Cameron, Robert Alexander
b. February 22, 1828 d. March 15, 1894
Civil War Union Brevet Major General. When the Civil War began, he was a doctor in practice at Valparaiso, Indiana and a member of the Indiana State Legislature. He entered the service as a Captain in the 9th Indiana Volunteers in 1861, became Lieutenant Colonel of the 19th Indiana the same year and Colonel in command of the 34th Indiana Infantry in 1862. In August 1863, he was promoted Brigadier General and led the 13th Army Corps in the Banks' Red River expedition of 1864.

Onassis, Aristotle
b. September 21, 1906 d. March 15, 1975Businessman and husband of former first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Rosenberg, Stuart
b. August 11, 1927 d. March 15, 2007
Motion Picture and Television Director. He is best known for the films "Murder, Inc." (1960) and "Cool Hand Luke" (1967). He also won an Emmy Award for a 1963 episode of the television series "The Defenders". After beginning his career in television as an editor, Rosenberg would make his directing debut in the late 1950s and accumulate credits such as "Naked City", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "The Untouchables", "The Twilight Zone" and "Rawhide".

Richmond, Alfred Carroll
b. January 18, 1902 d. March 15, 1984
United States Coast Guard Admiral. A 1924 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, Richmond was commissioned an Ensign and served as an aide to Rear Admiral Frederick C. Billard, then Commandant of the Coast Guard, from 1924 until 1926. In 1928 he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the USCGC Pontchartrain. After a brief time at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, now Lieutenant Commander Richmond was assigned to executive officer of the USCGC Haida until 1935.

Davis, Gail
b. October 5, 1925 d. March 15, 1997
Actress. Born Betty Jeanne Grayson in Little Rock, Arkansas, she studied drama and dance at the University of Texas. While there she met fellow student Bob Davis and they married. They divorced in 1952 after the birth of their daughter. She was discovered by Gene Autry who gave her the name Gail Davis. He featured her in many of his own movies and 30 episodes of the “Gene Autry Show.” An accomplished rider and trick shot, she also performed in Autry’s traveling rodeo.

Kirby, Durward
b. August 24, 1911 d. March 15, 2000
Television Personality, Actor. Durward Kirby was the well-known sidekick on "The Garry Moore Show," starting in 1950-1951 during the days of live television. Kirby was a sketch actor, singer, dancer, and pitched sponsors' products. Kirby was also a co-host (1961-1966) with Allen Funt of Candid Camera (which started on TV as a segment on the Moore show). Occasionally (erroneously) reported as born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Kirby's family moved to Indianapolis when he was 15.