What Happened on August 14
Important Events
- 1281 During Kublai Khan's second Mongol invasion of Japan his invading Chinese fleet of 3,500 vessels disappears in a typhoon near Japan
- 1842 Second Seminole War declared over by Colonel Worth; Indians go on to be removed from Florida to Oklahoma
- 1945 V-J Day, Japan surrenders unconditionally to end WW II (also August 15 depending on time zone)
- 1947 Pakistan gains independence from Great Britain
- 1969 British Army deploys on the streets of Northern Ireland, marking the beginning of Operation Banner
- 1980 17,000 workers go on strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland, marking the beginning of the Solidarity movement
Aug 14 in Film & TV
- 1938 BBC's 1st feature film on TV (Student of Prague)
Aug 14 in Music
Aug 14 in Sport
- 1987 Oakland's Mark McGwire sets rookie HR record at 39, en route to 49
Famous Birthdays
Hans Christian Ørsted
(1777 - 1851)- Doc Holliday
(1851 - 1887) - Steve Martin
75 Years Old - Danielle Steel
73 Years Old - Magic Johnson
61 Years Old - Halle Berry
54 Years Old
Hans Christian Ørsted
Doc Holliday
Steve Martin
Danielle Steel
Magic Johnson
Halle BerryWould You Believe?
The first claimed powered flight, by Gustave Whitehead in his Number 21.
On August 14, 1901
Famous Weddings
- 1756 Frontiersman Daniel Boone (21) weds Rebecca Bryan (17) in Yadkin River, North Carolina
- 1939 "A Star Is Born" actress Janet Gaynor (32) weds MGM costume designer Adrian (36)
- 1952 UK Prime Minister Anthony Eden (55) weds UK prime minister's niece Clarissa Spencer-Churchill (32) in a civil ceremony at Caxton Hall, London
Famous Divorces
- 2012 "Basketball Wives" TV personality Evelyn Lozada divorces NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson (34) due to irretrievably broken marriage only 41 days after getting married
David Farragut
Charles Crocker
William Randolph Hearst
Hugo Eckener
John SiricaArticles, Photos and Quiz
America's Last Public Hanging
The last man to be publicly hanged in the United States met his fate on this day in history. It was a squalid affair watched by about 10,000 people.
August 14, 1936Victory over Japan
Kissing the War Goodbye on VJ Day
August 14, 1945Weekly Quiz for August 12-18
Test your knowledge of historical events and famous people in our multi-choice, weekly history quiz for August 12-18. Then challenge your friends!
August in History
Ship of Gold Sails Into Oblivion
A frigate with more than 150 souls on board, as well as nearly three tons of gold, sailed out of Melbourne on this day – never to be seen again.
August 12, 1853First Faltering Steps of Jane Eyre
With hope, pride – and some subterfuge – Charlotte Brontë sent her hefty manuscript of Jane Eyre to publishers in London on this day, then crossed her fingers.
August 15, 1847A Kiss For Adolf Hitler
A woman spectator leaned over and kissed Adolf Hitler at the Berlin Olympic Games on this day. Hitler pretended to be amused, but his guards were to suffer.
August 15, 1936Why The King Became a Party Pooper
A man who tried to impress his king on this day with one of the most lavish and extravagant parties of all time, ended up spending the rest of his life in jail.
August 17, 1661
