In the spirit of the Animal Trivia Quiz Thread, I thought it might be fun to create an obituary quiz thread. This will hopefully be kind of fun and give us the opportunity to learn more about other famous people.

Here are the rules:

1. Find an actual obituary online or in a book. Epitaphs are acceptable, too, as are engravings on tombstones.

2. Anyone is acceptable as long as they are likely to be known: historical/political figures, scientists, inventors, celebrities, authors, artists, etc. Not your aunt Sally.

3. Obscure the information by deleting the name or anything else that may give it away too easily. See my example below. 

4. No Internet searches. You have to search your mind for the answer. It's okay to guess.

5. If it's your turn, please try and not forget about us. Check in regularly to see if someone has guessed correctly.

6. When it is your turn, be sure to reply only to the original post, and not to a previous comment. This will allow for more responses directly under each challenge.

7. If any obit remains unanswered after 24 hrs (because it is too difficult), that turn will be forfeited and I will appoint the next person.

I will post the first obituary. The first person to get it right gets to post the next obit.

Here is the first obituary:

We regret to learn that __________________, the distinguished American ________, scholar and critic, died in this city yesterday morning, after an illness of four or five days. This announcement, coming so sudden and unexpected, will cause poignant regret among all who admire genius, and have sympathy for the frailties too often accompanying it.  ________________, we believe, was a native of this State, though reared by a foster-father at Richmond, Va., where he lately spent some time on a visit. He as in the 38th [sic] of his age.  -- Balt. Sun, 8th inst. (October 8, 1849)