On This Day in History — April 14

Highlights of April 14

• 2024 — Flooding in the Persian Gulf began, killing 19 in Oman. Read more
• 2015 — Western Kentucky University announced a five-year suspension of their swimming and diving programs as a result of a hazing scandal. Read more
• 2010 — Plumes of ash from a major eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland led to widespread disruption of air travel throughout Europe for several days. Read more
• 2010 — Nearly 2,700 people were killed in an earthquake registering 6.9 Mw in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China. Read more
• 2005 — The Oregon Supreme Court nullified marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples a year earlier by Multnomah County. Read more
• 1999 — A storm dropped around 500,000 tonnes of hailstones on Sydney (examples pictured) and the east coast of New South Wales, causing about A$2.3 billion in damages, the costliest natural disaster in Australian insurance history. Read more
• 1994 — Iraqi no-fly zones conflict: In a friendly-fire incident during Operation Provide Comfort, two U.S. Air Force aircraft mistakenly shot down two U.S. Army helicopters over northern Iraq, killing 26 people. Read more
• 1983 — Let's Dance, English musician David Bowie's best-selling album, was released. Read more
• 1978 — Thousands of Georgians demonstrated in Tbilisi against an attempt by the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR to change the constitutional status of the Georgian language. Read more
• 1970 — After an oxygen tank aboard Apollo 13 (mission patch pictured) exploded, disabling the spacecraft's electrical and life-support systems, astronaut Jack Swigert reported: "Houston, we've had a problem here". Read more
• 1967 — After leading a military coup three months earlier, Gnassingbé Eyadéma installed himself as President of Togo, a post that he held until 2005. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The German town of Friesoythe was razed by the 4th Canadian Division on the orders of Major General Christopher Vokes. Read more
• 1944 — The freighter Fort Stikine, carrying cotton bales, gold and ammunition, exploded in the harbour of Bombay, India, sinking surrounding ships and causing about 800 deaths. Read more
• 1935 — Dust Bowl: A severe dust storm swept across Oklahoma and northern Texas, removing an estimated 300 million tons of topsoil from the prairies. Read more
• 1931 — After King Alfonso XIII left Spain, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed by a provisional government led by Niceto Alcalá-Zamora. Read more
• 1909 — Following a reactionary military revolt against the Committee of Union and Progress, a mob began a massacre of Armenian Christians in the Adana Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. Read more
• 1908 — The first Hauser Dam in the U.S. state of Montana failed, causing severe flooding and damage downstream. Read more
• 1906 — The Azusa Street Revival, the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century, opened in Los Angeles. Read more
• 1865 — Actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth fatally shot U.S. president Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1828 — Lexicographer Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary of American English Read more
• 1471 — Wars of the Roses: The Yorkists under Edward IV defeated the Lancastrians at the Battle of Barnet, killing Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. Read more
• 966 — Mieszko I, the ruler of Poland, converted to Christianity, an event considered to be the founding of the Polish state. Read more
• 43 BC — War of Mutina: Despite initial success, troops loyal to Mark Antony were defeated near the Via Aemilia in northern Italy by legions loyal to the Roman Senate. Read more

Events

• 2024 — Flooding in the Persian Gulf starts, killing 19 in Oman. Read more
• 2023 — The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is launched by the European Space Agency. Read more
• 2022 — Russian invasion of Ukraine: The Russian warship Moskva is struck by two anti-ship missiles and sinks into the Black Sea. Read more
• 2016 — The foreshock of a major earthquake occurs in Kumamoto, Japan. Read more
• 2014 — Two bombs detonate at a bus station in Nyanya, Nigeria, killing at least 88 people and injuring hundreds. Boko Haram claims responsibility. Read more
• 2014 — Boko Haram abducts 276 girls from a school in Chibok, Nigeria. Read more
• 2006 — Twin blasts triggered by crude bombs during Asr prayer in the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi injure 13 people. Read more
• 2005 — The Oregon Supreme Court nullifies marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples a year earlier by Multnomah County. Read more
• 2003 — The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%. Read more
• 2003 — U.S. troops in Baghdad capture Abu Abbas, leader of the Palestinian group that killed an American on the hijacked cruise liner MS Achille Lauro in 1985. Read more
• 2002 — Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez returns to office two days after being ousted and arrested by the country's military. Read more
• 2001 — Series of bombings at Ramna Park in Dhaka during the Bengali New Year celebrations leave 10 people dead and dozens other injured. Read more
• 1999 — NATO mistakenly bombs a convoy of ethnic Albanian refugees. Yugoslav officials say 75 people were killed. Read more
• 1999 — A severe hailstorm strikes Sydney, Australia causing A$2.3 billion in insured damages, the most costly natural disaster in Australian history. Read more
• 1997 — Pai Hsiao-yen, daughter of Taiwanese artiste Pai Bing-bing, is kidnapped on her way to school, preceding her murder. Read more
• 1994 — In a friendly fire incident during Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq, two U.S. Air Force aircraft mistakenly shoot-down two U.S. Army helicopters, killing 26 people. Read more
• 1991 — The Republic of Georgia introduces the post of President following its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1988 — The USS Samuel B. Roberts strikes a mine in the Persian Gulf during Operation Earnest Will. Read more
• 1988 — In a United Nations ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, the Soviet Union signs an agreement pledging to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. Read more
• 1986 — The heaviest hailstones ever recorded, each weighing 1 kilogram (2.2 lb), fall on the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh, killing 92. Read more
• 1981 — STS-1: The first operational Space Shuttle, Columbia, completes its first test flight. Read more
• 1979 — The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting in over 70 deaths and over 500 injuries. Read more
• 1978 — Tbilisi demonstrations: Thousands of Georgians demonstrate against Soviet attempts to change the constitutional status of the Georgian language. Read more
• 1967 — Gnassingbé Eyadéma overthrows Nicolas Grunitzky and installs himself as the new President of Togo, a title he will hold for the next 38 years. Read more
• 1958 — The Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 falls from orbit after a mission duration of 162 days. This was the first spacecraft to carry a living animal, a female dog named Laika, who likely lived only a few hours. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: In what becomes known as the Razing of Friesoythe, the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division deliberately destroys the German town of Friesoythe on the orders of Major General Christopher Vokes. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: German and Italian forces attack Tobruk, Libya. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Royal Marines land in Namsos, Norway, preceding a larger force which will arrive two days later. Read more
• 1935 — The Black Sunday dust storm, considered one of the worst storms of the Dust Bowl, sweeps across the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles and neighboring areas. Read more
• 1931 — The Second Spanish Republic is proclaimed and King Alfonso XIII goes into exile. Meanwhile, in Barcelona, Francesc Macià proclaims the Catalan Republic. Read more
• 1929 — The inaugural Monaco Grand Prix takes place in the Principality of Monaco. William Grover-Williams wins driving a Bugatti Type 35. Read more
• 1912 — The British passenger liner RMS Titanic hits an iceberg in the North Atlantic and begins to sink. Read more
• 1909 — Muslims in the Ottoman Empire begin a massacre of Armenians in Adana. Read more
• 1908 — Hauser Dam, a steel dam on the Missouri River in Montana, fails, sending a surge of water 25 to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 m) high downstream. Read more
• 1906 — The first meeting of the Azusa Street Revival, which will launch Pentecostalism as a worldwide movement, is held in Los Angeles. Read more
• 1900 — The world's fair Exposition Universelle opens in Paris. Read more
• 1895 — The 1895 Ljubljana earthquake, both the most and last destructive earthquake in the area, occurs. Read more
• 1894 — The first ever commercial motion picture house opens in New York City, United States. It uses ten Kinetoscopes, devices for peep-show viewing of films. Read more
• 1890 — The Pan-American Union is founded by the First International Conference of American States in Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1881 — The Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight occurs in El Paso, Texas. Read more
• 1865 — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is shot in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth; Lincoln dies the following day. Read more
• 1865 — William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State, and his family are attacked at home by Lewis Powell. Read more
• 1858 — The 1858 Christiania fire severely destroys several city blocks near Stortorvet in Christiania, Norway, and about 1,000 people lose their homes. Read more
• 1849 — Hungary declares itself independent of Austria with Lajos Kossuth as its leader. Read more
• 1816 — Bussa, a slave in British-ruled Barbados, leads a slave rebellion, for which he is remembered as the country's first national hero. Read more
• 1793 — The French troops led by Léger-Félicité Sonthonax defeat the slaves settlers in the Siege of Port-au-Prince. Read more
• 1775 — The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, the first abolition society in North America, is organized in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush. Read more
• 1639 — Thirty Years' War: Forces of the Holy Roman Empire and Electorate of Saxony are defeated by the Swedes at the Battle of Chemnitz, ending the military effectiveness of the Saxon army for the rest of the war and allowing the Swedes to advance into Bohemia. Read more
• 1561 — A celestial phenomenon is reported over Nuremberg, described as an aerial battle. Read more
• 1471 — In England, the Yorkists under Edward IV defeat the Lancastrians under the Earl of Warwick at the Battle of Barnet; the Earl is killed and Edward resumes the throne. Read more
• 1395 — Tokhtamysh–Timur war: At the Battle of the Terek River, Timur defeats the army of the Golden Horde, beginning the khanate's permanent military decline. Read more
• 1205 — Combined Bulgarian and Cuman army under Kalojan ambushes and defeats forces of the Latin Empire of Constantinople in the Battle of Adrianople. Read more
• 972 — Otto II, Co-Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, marries Byzantine princess Theophanu. She is crowned empress by Pope John XIII in Rome the same day. Read more
• 966 — Following his marriage to the Christian Doubravka of Bohemia, the pagan ruler of the Polans, Mieszko I, converts to Christianity, an event considered to be the founding of the Polish state. Read more
• 69 — Vitellius, commanding Rhine-based armies, defeats Roman emperor Otho in the First Battle of Bedriacum to take power over Rome. Read more
• 43 BC — Legions loyal to the Roman Senate, commanded by Gaius Pansa, defeat the forces of Mark Antony in the Battle of Forum Gallorum. Read more

Born on April 14

• 2001 — Jalen Williams, American basketball player Read more
• 2000 — Patrick Surtain II, American football player Read more
• 1999 — Chase Young, American football player Read more
• 1997 — D. J. Moore, American football player Read more
• 1996 — Abigail Breslin, American actress Read more
• 1995 — Baker Mayfield, American football player Read more
• 1995 — Georgie Friedrichs, Australian rugby sevens player Read more
• 1989 — Joe Haden, American football player Read more
• 1988 — Eric Gryba, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1988 — Eliška Klučinová, Czech heptathlete Read more
• 1988 — Brad Sinopoli, Canadian football player Read more
• 1988 — Anthony Modeste, French footballer Read more
• 1987 — Michael Baze, American jockey (died 2011) Read more
• 1987 — Erwin Hoffer, Austrian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Wilson Kiprop, Kenyan runner Read more
• 1986 — Matt Derbyshire, English footballer Read more
• 1984 — Blake Costanzo, American football player Read more
• 1984 — Charles Hamelin, Canadian speed skater Read more
• 1984 — Harumafuji Kōhei, Mongolian sumo wrestler, the 70th Yokozuna Read more
• 1984 — Tyler Thigpen, American football player Read more
• 1983 — Simona La Mantia, Italian triple jumper Read more
• 1983 — James McFadden, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1983 — William Obeng, Ghanaian-American football player Read more
• 1983 — Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Georgian basketball player Read more
• 1982 — Uğur Boral, Turkish footballer Read more
• 1982 — Larissa França, Brazilian volleyball player Read more
• 1981 — Mustafa Güngör, German rugby player Read more
• 1981 — Amy Leach, English director and producer Read more
• 1980 — Win Butler, American-Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1980 — Jeremy Smith, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
• 1979 — David Crisafulli, Australian politician, 41st Premier of Queensland Read more
• 1979 — Rebecca DiPietro, American wrestler and model Read more
• 1979 — Marios Elia, Cypriot footballer Read more
• 1979 — Ross Filipo, New Zealand rugby player Read more
• 1979 — Noé Pamarot, French footballer Read more
• 1979 — Kerem Tunçeri, Turkish basketball player Read more
• 1978 — Roland Lessing, Estonian biathlete Read more
• 1977 — Nate Fox, American basketball player (died 2014) Read more
• 1977 — Martin Kaalma, Estonian footballer Read more
• 1977 — Sarah Michelle Gellar, American actress Read more

Died on April 14

• 2025 — Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysian civil servant and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia (born 1939) Read more
• 2024 — Ken Holtzman, American baseball player (born 1945) Read more
• 2023 — Mark Sheehan, Irish guitarist (The Script) (born 1976) Read more
• 2022 — Mike Bossy, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster (born 1957) Read more
• 2022 — Ilkka Kanerva, Finnish politician (born 1948) Read more
• 2022 — Orlando Julius, Nigerian saxophonist, singer (born 1943) Read more
• 2021 — Bernie Madoff, American mastermind of the world's largest Ponzi scheme (born 1938) Read more
• 2020 — Carol D'Onofrio, American public health researcher (born 1936) Read more
• 2019 — Bibi Andersson, Swedish actress (born 1935) Read more
• 2015 — Klaus Bednarz, German journalist and author (born 1942) Read more
• 2015 — Mark Reeds, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach (born 1960) Read more
• 2015 — Percy Sledge, American singer (born 1940) Read more
• 2015 — Roberto Tucci, Italian cardinal and theologian (born 1921) Read more
• 2014 — Nina Cassian, Romanian poet and critic (born 1924) Read more
• 2014 — Crad Kilodney, American-Canadian author (born 1948) Read more
• 2014 — Wally Olins, English businessman and academic (born 1930) Read more
• 2014 — Mick Staton, American soldier and politician (born 1940) Read more
• 2013 — Efi Arazi, Israeli businessman, founded the Scailex Corporation (born 1937) Read more
• 2013 — Colin Davis, English conductor and educator (born 1927) Read more
• 2013 — R. P. Goenka, Indian businessman, founded RPG Group (born 1930) Read more
• 2013 — George Jackson, American singer-songwriter (born 1945) Read more
• 2013 — Armando Villanueva, Peruvian politician, 121st Prime Minister of Peru (born 1915) Read more
• 2013 — Charlie Wilson, American politician (born 1943) Read more
• 2012 — Émile Bouchard, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1919) Read more
• 2012 — Jonathan Frid, Canadian actor (born 1924) Read more
• 2012 — Piermario Morosini, Italian footballer (born 1986) Read more
• 2011 — Jean Gratton, Canadian Roman Catholic bishop (born 1924) Read more
• 2010 — Israr Ahmed, Pakistani theologian and scholar (born 1932) Read more
• 2010 — Alice Miller, Polish-French psychologist and author (born 1923) Read more
• 2010 — Peter Steele, American singer-songwriter and bass player (born 1962) Read more
• 2009 — Maurice Druon, French author (born 1918) Read more
• 2008 — Tommy Holmes, American baseball player and manager (born 1917) Read more
• 2008 — Ollie Johnston, American animator and voice actor (born 1912) Read more
• 2007 — June Callwood, Canadian journalist, author, and activist (born 1924) Read more
• 2007 — Don Ho, American singer and ukulele player (born 1930) Read more
• 2007 — René Rémond, French historian and economist (born 1918) Read more
• 2006 — Mahmut Bakalli, Kosovo politician (born 1936) Read more
• 2004 — Micheline Charest, English-Canadian television producer, co-founded the Cookie Jar Group (born 1953) Read more
• 2003 — Jyrki Otila, Finnish politician (born 1941) Read more
• 2001 — Jim Baxter, Scottish footballer (born 1939) Read more

Holidays & observances

Ambedkar Jayanti (India); Bengali New Year (Bangladesh); Black Day (South Korea); Burt Gummer Day; Cake and Cunnilingus Day; Christian feast day: Anthony, John, and Eustathius; Christian feast day: Bénézet; Christian feast day: Henry Beard Delany (U.S. Episcopal Church); Christian feast day: Domnina of Terni; Christian feast day: Lidwina; Christian feast day: Peter González; Christian feast day: Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus; Christian feast day: April 14 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Commemoration of Anfal Genocide Against the Kurds (Iraqi Kurdistan); Day of Mologa (Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia); Day of the Georgian language (Georgia); Dhivehi Language Day (Maldives); N'Ko Alphabet Day (Mande speakers); Pan American Day (several countries in the Americas); Takayama Spring Festival begins (Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan); Vaisakhi (Since 2011); Youth Day (Angola); World Quantum Day

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