Home › Almanac › On This Day
On This Day in History — August 14
‹ August 13The AlmanacAugust 15 ›
Highlights of August 14
- 2021 — A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck in Haiti, killing at least 2,248 people and causing $1.5 billion in damages and economic loss. Read more
- 2013 — Security forces raided two camps of supporters of the ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in Cairo, leading to the deaths of at least 595 civilians. Read more
- 2010 — The inaugural edition of the Youth Olympic Games opened in Singapore for athletes aged between 14 and 18. Read more
- 2007 — Four coordinated suicide bomb attacks detonated in the Yazidi communities of Qahtaniya and Jazeera, Iraq, killing 796 people and wounding 1,562 others. Read more
- 2005 — Helios Airways Flight 522 crashed into a mountain north of Marathon, Greece, killing all 121 people on board. Read more
- 1975 — The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in London, the first in its record-breaking run in cinemas, which continues in limited release. Read more
- 1945 — Kenji Hatanaka (pictured) and other Japanese military officers launched an attempted coup d'état to prevent the surrender of Japan. Read more
- 1941 — After a secret meeting in Newfoundland, British prime minister Winston Churchill and U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt (both pictured) issued the Atlantic Charter, establishing a vision for a post–World War II world. Read more
- 1888 — One of the first recordings of music, of Arthur Sullivan's "The Lost Chord", was played at a press conference in London to introduce Thomas Edison's phonograph. Read more
- 1816 — The United Kingdom formally annexed the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, administering the islands from the Cape Colony in South Africa. Read more
- 1720 — The Spanish Villasur expedition, intended to slow the progress of French influence on the Great Plains of North America, ended in failure when it was ambushed by Pawnee and Otoe forces. Read more
- 1264 — War of Saint Sabas: A Genoese fleet captured or sank most of the ships of a Venetian trade convoy off the Albanian coast. Read more
Events
- 2023 — Former U.S. president Donald Trump is charged in Georgia along with 18 others in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election in that state, his fourth indictment of 2023. Read more
- 2022 — An explosion destroys a market in Armenia, killing six people and injuring dozens. Read more
- 2021 — A magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes southwestern Haiti, killing at least 2,248 people and causing a humanitarian crisis. Read more
- 2018 — The collapse of the Ponte Morandi bridge in Genoa, Italy, left 16 people injured and 43 people killed. Read more
- 2015 — The U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba re-opens after 54 years of being closed when Cuba–United States relations were broken off. Read more
- 2013 — Egypt declares a state of emergency as security forces kill hundreds of demonstrators supporting former president Mohamed Morsi. Read more
- 2013 — UPS Airlines Flight 1354 crashes short of the runway at Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport, killing both crew members on board. Read more
- 2007 — The Kahtaniya bombings kill at least 500 people. Read more
- 2006 — Lebanon War: A ceasefire takes effect three days after the United Nations Security Council's approval of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, formally ending hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. Read more
- 2006 — Sri Lankan Civil War: Sixty-one schoolgirls killed in Chencholai bombing by Sri Lanka Air Force air strike. Read more
- 2005 — Helios Airways Flight 522, en route from Larnaca, Cyprus to Prague, Czech Republic via Athens, crashes in the hills near Grammatiko, Greece, killing 121 passengers and crew. Read more
- 2003 — A widescale power blackout affects the northeast United States and Canada. Read more
- 1996 — Greek Cypriot refugee Solomos Solomou is shot and killed by a Turkish security officer while trying to climb a flagpole in order to remove a Turkish flag from its mast in the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus. Read more
- 1994 — Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, also known as "Carlos the Jackal", is captured. Read more
- 1980 — Lech Wałęsa leads strikes at the Gdańsk, Poland shipyards. Read more
- 1974 — Turkey launches the second phase of the invasion of Cyprus, which eventually resulted in the Turkish occupation of 37% of Cyprus. Read more
- 1972 — An Ilyushin Il-62 airliner crashes near Königs Wusterhausen, East Germany killing 156 people. Read more
- 1971 — Bahrain declares independence from Britain. Read more
- 1969 — The Troubles: British troops are deployed in Northern Ireland as political and sectarian violence breaks out, marking the start of the 37-year Operation Banner. Read more
- 1967 — UK Marine Broadcasting Offences Act 1967 declares participation in offshore pirate radio illegal. Read more
- 1959 — Founding and first official meeting of the American Football League. Read more
- 1948 — An Idaho Department of Fish and Game program to relocate beavers known as Beaver drop occurred. This program relocated beavers from Northwestern Idaho to Central Idaho by airplane and then parachuting the beavers into the Chamberlain Basin. Read more
- 1947 — Pakistan gains independence from the British Empire as the Dominion of Pakistan, due to the partition of India. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter of war stating postwar aims. Read more
- 1936 — Rainey Bethea is hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky in the last known public execution in the United States. Read more
- 1935 — Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, creating a government pension system for the retired. Read more
- 1933 — Loggers cause a forest fire in the Coast Range of Oregon, later known as the first forest fire of the Tillamook Burn; destroying 240,000 acres (970 km2) of land. Read more
- 1921 — Tannu Uriankhai, later Tuvan People's Republic is established as a completely independent country (which is supported by Soviet Russia). Read more
- 1920 — The 1920 Summer Olympics, having started four months earlier, officially open in Antwerp, Belgium, with the newly adopted Olympic flag and the Olympic oath being raised and taken at the Opening Ceremony for the first time in Olympic history. Read more
- 1917 — World War I: The Republic of China, which had heretofore been shipping labourers to Europe to assist in the war effort, officially declares war on the Central Powers, although it will continue to send to Europe labourers instead of combatants for the remaining duration of the war. Read more
- 1914 — World War I: Start of the Battle of Lorraine, an unsuccessful French offensive. Read more
- 1901 — The first claimed powered flight, by Gustave Whitehead in his Number 21. Read more
- 1900 — Battle of Peking: The Eight-Nation Alliance occupies Beijing, China, in a campaign to end the bloody Boxer Rebellion in China. Read more
- 1893 — France becomes the first country to introduce motor vehicle registration. Read more
- 1885 — Japan's first patent is issued to the inventor of a rust-proof paint. Read more
- 1880 — Construction of Cologne Cathedral, the most famous landmark in Cologne, Germany, is completed. Read more
- 1848 — Oregon Territory is organized by act of Congress. Read more
- 1848 — Pica Law (Legge Pica), a form of martial law, is established as the Italian government passes this anti-brigandage law to suppress resistance to the Unification of Italy. Read more
- 1842 — American Indian Wars: Second Seminole War ends, with the Seminoles forced from Florida. Read more
- 1816 — The United Kingdom formally annexes the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, administering the islands from the Cape Colony in South Africa. Read more
- 1814 — A cease fire agreement, called the Convention of Moss, ends the Swedish–Norwegian War. Read more
- 1791 — Slaves from plantations in Saint-Domingue hold a Vodou ceremony led by houngan Dutty Boukman at Bois Caïman, marking the start of the Haitian Revolution. Read more
- 1790 — The Treaty of Wereloe ends the 1788–1790 Russo-Swedish War. Read more
- 1784 — Russian colonization of North America: Awa'uq Massacre: The Russian fur trader Grigory Shelikhov storms a Kodiak Island Alutiit refuge rock on Sitkalidak Island, killing 500+ Alutiit. Read more
- 1720 — The Spanish military Villasur expedition is defeated by Pawnee and Otoe warriors near present-day Columbus, Nebraska. Read more
- 1598 — Nine Years' War: Battle of the Yellow Ford: Irish forces under Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, defeat an English expeditionary force under Henry Bagenal. Read more
- 1592 — The first sighting of the Falkland Islands by John Davis. Read more
- 1385 — Portuguese Crisis of 1383–85: Battle of Aljubarrota: Portuguese forces commanded by John I of Portugal defeat the Castilian army of John I of Castile. Read more
- 1370 — Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, grants city privileges to Karlovy Vary. Read more
- 1352 — War of the Breton Succession: Anglo-Bretons defeat the French in the Battle of Mauron. Read more
- 1264 — After tricking the Venetian galley fleet into sailing east to the Levant, the Genoese capture an entire Venetian trade convoy at the Battle of Saseno. Read more
- 1183 — Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures and flee to western Japan to escape pursuit by the Minamoto clan. Read more
- 1136 — Abbasid Caliph al-Rashid Billah flees from Bagdhad, which had been besieged by an army of the Seljuk Turks under Sultan Ghiyath ad-Din Mas'ud for fifty days. Read more
- 1040 — King Duncan I is killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth. The latter succeeds him as King of Scotland. Read more
- 29 BC — Octavian holds the second of three consecutive triumphs in Rome to celebrate the victory over the Dalmatian tribes. Read more
- 70 BC — Gaius Verres is found guilty of corruption after his defense lawyer Quintus Hortensius abandons the case as hopeless. Read more
- 74 BC — A group of officials, led by the Western Han minister Huo Guang, present articles of impeachment against the new emperor, Liu He, to the imperial regent, Empress Dowager Shangguan. Read more
Born on August 14
- 2007 — Franco Mastantuono, Argentine footballer Read more
- 2004 — Marsai Martin, American actress and producer Read more
- 2000 — Johan Rojas, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1998 — Doechii, American rapper Read more
- 1997 — Greet Minnen, Belgian tennis player Read more
- 1995 — Léolia Jeanjean, French tennis player Read more
- 1994 — Maya Jama, British TV presenter. Read more
- 1991 — Richard Freitag, German ski jumper Read more
- 1991 — Giovanny Gallegos, Mexican baseball player Read more
- 1989 — Ander Herrera, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1989 — Kyle Turris, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1987 — Johnny Gargano, American wrestler Read more
- 1987 — David Peralta, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Tim Tebow, American football and baseball player and sportscaster Read more
- 1986 — Braian Rodríguez, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1985 — Christian Gentner, German footballer Read more
- 1985 — Shea Weber, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1984 — Eva Birnerová, Czech tennis player Read more
- 1984 — Clay Buchholz, American baseball player Read more
- 1984 — Giorgio Chiellini, Italian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Josh Gorges, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1984 — Nick Grimshaw, English radio and television host Read more
- 1984 — Nicola Slater, Scottish tennis player Read more
- 1984 — Robin Söderling, Swedish tennis player Read more
- 1983 — Elena Baltacha, Ukrainian-Scottish tennis player (died 2014) Read more
- 1983 — Mila Kunis, Ukrainian-American actress Read more
- 1983 — Lamorne Morris, American actor and comedian Read more
- 1983 — Spencer Pratt, American television personality Read more
- 1981 — Earl Barron, American basketball player Read more
- 1981 — Paul Gallen, Australian rugby league player, boxer, and sportscaster Read more
- 1981 — Julius Jones, American football player Read more
- 1981 — Kofi Kingston, Ghanaian-American wrestler Read more
- 1981 — Scott Lipsky, American tennis player Read more
- 1980 — Peter Malinauskas, Australian politician, 47th Premier of South Australia Read more
- 1979 — Paul Burgess, Australian pole vaulter Read more
- 1978 — Anastasios Kyriakos, Greek footballer Read more
- 1978 — Greg Rawlinson, New Zealand rugby player Read more
- 1977 — Juan Pierre, American baseball player Read more
- 1976 — Fabrizio Donato, Italian triple jumper Read more
- 1975 — Mike Vrabel, American football player Read more
Died on August 14
- 2025 — Mike Castle, American politician, 69th Governor of Delaware (born 1939) Read more
- 2024 — Gena Rowlands, American actress (born 1930) Read more
- 2023 — Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Bangladeshi Islamic lecturer, politician (born 1940) Read more
- 2021 — Michael Aung-Thwin, American historian and scholar of Burmese and Southeast Asian history (born 1946) Read more
- 2020 — Julian Bream, English classical guitarist and lutenist (born 1933) Read more
- 2020 — Angela Buxton, British tennis player (born 1934) Read more
- 2020 — James R. Thompson, American politician, Governor of Illinois (born 1936) Read more
- 2019 — Polly Farmer, Australian footballer and coach (born 1935) Read more
- 2018 — Jill Janus, American singer (born 1975) Read more
- 2016 — Fyvush Finkel, American actor (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Bob Johnston, American songwriter and producer (born 1932) Read more
- 2014 — Leonard Fein, American journalist and academic, co-founded Moment Magazine (born 1934) Read more
- 2014 — George V. Hansen, American politician (born 1930) Read more
- 2013 — Jack Germond, American journalist and author (born 1928) Read more
- 2012 — Vilasrao Deshmukh, Indian lawyer and politician, Chief Minister of Maharashtra (born 1945) Read more
- 2012 — Svetozar Gligorić, Serbian chess player (born 1923) Read more
- 2012 — Phyllis Thaxter, American actress (born 1919) Read more
- 2010 — Herman Leonard, American photographer (born 1923) Read more
- 2007 — Tikhon Khrennikov, Russian pianist and composer (born 1913) Read more
- 2006 — Bruno Kirby, American actor (born 1949) Read more
- 2004 — Czesław Miłosz, Polish-born American novelist, essayist, and poet, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1911) Read more
- 2004 — Trevor Skeet, New Zealand-English lawyer and politician (born 1918) Read more
- 2003 — Helmut Rahn, German footballer (born 1929) Read more
- 2002 — Larry Rivers, American painter and sculptor (born 1923) Read more
- 1999 — Pee Wee Reese, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1918) Read more
- 1996 — Sergiu Celibidache, Romanian conductor and composer (born 1912) Read more
- 1994 — Elias Canetti, Bulgarian-Swiss author, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1905) Read more
- 1994 — Alice Childress, American actress, playwright, and author (born 1912) Read more
- 1992 — John Sirica, American lawyer and judge (born 1904) Read more
- 1991 — Alberto Crespo, Argentinian racing driver (born 1920) Read more
- 1988 — Roy Buchanan, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1939) Read more
- 1988 — Robert Calvert, South African-English singer-songwriter and playwright (born 1945): 1712 Read more
- 1988 — Enzo Ferrari, Italian racing driver and businessman, founded Ferrari (born 1898) Read more
- 1985 — Gale Sondergaard, American actress (born 1899) Read more
- 1984 — Spud Davis, American baseball player, coach, and manager (born 1904) Read more
- 1984 — J. B. Priestley, English novelist and playwright (born 1894) Read more
- 1982 — Mahasi Sayadaw, Burmese monk and philosopher (born 1904) Read more
- 1981 — Karl Böhm, Austrian conductor and director (born 1894) Read more
- 1981 — Dudley Nourse, South African cricketer (born 1910) Read more
- 1980 — Dorothy Stratten, Canadian-American model and actress (born 1960) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Arnold of Soissons; Christian feast day:
Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia; Christian feast day:
Eusebius of Rome; Christian feast day:
Fachtna of Rosscarbery; Christian feast day:
Jonathan Myrick Daniels (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day:
Maria Elisabetta Renzi; Christian feast day:
Martyrs of Otranto; Christian feast day:
Maximilian Kolbe; National Navajo Code Talkers Day is a holiday in the United States honoring Navajo code talkers in the military.; Falklands Day is the celebration of the first sighting of the Falkland Islands by John Davis in 1592.; Independence Day celebrates the independence of Pakistan from the United Kingdom in 1947.; Partition Horrors Remembrance Day commemorates the victims and sufferings of people during the Partition of India in 1947.
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “August 14”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.