On This Day — December 14

🕰️ Notable Events on December 14

• 2013 — A reported coup attempt in South Sudan leads to continued fighting and hundreds of casualties. Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting: Twenty-eight people, including the gunman, are killed in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Muntadhar al-Zaidi throws his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — The Millau Viaduct, the tallest bridge in the world, is formally inaugurated near Millau, France. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf narrowly escapes an assassination attempt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — Torrential rains cause flash floods in Vargas, Venezuela, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, the destruction of thousands of homes, and the complete collapse of the state's infrastructure. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Yugoslav Wars: The Yugoslav Army ambushes a group of Kosovo Liberation Army fighters attempting to smuggle weapons from Albania into Kosovo, killing 36. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Yugoslav Wars: The Dayton Agreement is signed in Paris by the leaders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Construction begins on the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze river. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — War in Abkhazia: Siege of Tkvarcheli: A helicopter carrying evacuees from Tkvarcheli is shot down, resulting in at least 52 deaths, including 25 children. The incident catalyses more concerted Russian military intervention on behalf of Abkhazia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Arab-Israeli conflict: Israel's Knesset ratifies the Golan Heights Law, extending Israeli law to the occupied Golan Heights. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Apollo program: Eugene Cernan is the last person to walk on the moon, after he and Harrison Schmitt complete the third and final extravehicular activity (EVA) of the Apollo 17 mission. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Bangladesh Liberation War: Over 200 of East Pakistan's intellectuals are executed by the Pakistan Army and their local allies. (The date is commemorated in Bangladesh as Martyred Intellectuals Day.) Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — American Civil Rights Movement: Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that Congress can use the Constitution's Commerce Clause to fight discrimination. Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — The dam containing the Baldwin Hills Reservoir bursts, killing five people and damaging hundreds of homes in Los Angeles, California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — NASA's Mariner 2 becomes the first spacecraft to fly by Venus. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Convention against Discrimination in Education of UNESCO is adopted. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — The 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition becomes the first to reach the southern pole of inaccessibility. Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Ceylon, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Romania and Spain join the United Nations through United Nations Security Council Resolution 109. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: Japan signs a treaty of alliance with Thailand. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Plutonium (specifically Pu-238) is first isolated at Berkeley, California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Winter War: The Soviet Union is expelled from the League of Nations for invading Finland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Friedrich Karl von Hessen, a German prince elected by the Parliament of Finland to become King Väinö I, renounces the Finnish throne. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Portuguese President Sidónio Pais is assassinated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Lisandro de la Torre and others found the Democratic Progressive Party (Partido Demócrata Progresista, PDP) at the Hotel Savoy, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Haruna, the fourth and last Kongō-class ship, launches, eventually becoming one of the Japanese workhorses during World War I and World War II. Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Roald Amundsen's team, comprising himself, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and Oscar Wisting, becomes the first to reach the South Pole. Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — New South Wales Premier Charles Wade signs the Seat of Government Surrender Act 1909, formally completing the transfer of State land to the Commonwealth to create the Australian Capital Territory. Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — The schooner Thomas W. Lawson runs aground and founders near the Hellweather's Reef within the Isles of Scilly in a gale. The pilot and 15 seamen die. Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — The Wright brothers make their first attempt to fly with the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — The Commercial Pacific Cable Company lays the first Pacific telegraph cable, from San Francisco to Honolulu. Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Quantum mechanics: Max Planck presents a theoretical derivation of his black-body radiation law. Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — The Glasgow Underground Railway is opened by the Glasgow District Subway Company. Wikipedia ↗
• 1836 — The Toledo War unofficially ends. Wikipedia ↗
• 1819 — Alabama becomes the 22nd U.S. state. Wikipedia ↗
• 1814 — War of 1812: The Royal Navy seizes control of Lake Borgne, Louisiana. Wikipedia ↗
• 1812 — The French invasion of Russia comes to an end as the remnants of the Grande Armée are expelled from Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1782 — The Montgolfier brothers first test fly a hot air balloon in France; it floats nearly 2 km (1.2 mi). Wikipedia ↗
• 1751 — The Theresian Military Academy is founded in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Wikipedia ↗
• 1542 — Princess Mary Stuart becomes Mary, Queen of Scots. Wikipedia ↗
• 1287 — St. Lucia's flood: The Zuiderzee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses, killing over 50,000 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 835 — Sweet Dew Incident: Emperor Wenzong of the Tang dynasty conspires to kill the powerful eunuchs of the Tang court, but the plot is foiled. Wikipedia ↗
• 557 — Constantinople is severely damaged by an earthquake. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 14

• 1996 — Li Zijun, Chinese figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Antonio Giovinazzi, Italian racing driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Tori Kelly, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Ryo Miyaichi, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Ben Henry, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Offset, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Sam Burgess, English rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Pedro Roberto Silva Botelho, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Onew, South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Nicolas Batum, French basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Nate Ebner, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Vanessa Hudgens, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Hayato Sakamoto, Japanese baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Kenneth Medwood, Belizean-American hurdler Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jakub Błaszczykowski, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Alex Pennie, Welsh keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Paul Rabil, American lacrosse player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Tom Smith, English-Welsh rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Nonami Takizawa, Japanese actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Chris Brunt, Northern Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Rana Daggubati, Indian actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ed Rainsford, Zimbabwean cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Leanne Mitchell, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Josh Fields, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Steve Sidwell, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Anthony Way, English singer and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Rebecca Jarvis, American journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Johnny Jeter, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Liam Lawrence, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Shaun Marcum, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Gordon Greer, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Didier Zokora, Ivorian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Thed Björk, Swedish racing driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Jean-Alain Boumsong, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Andrei Makrov, Estonian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Sophie Monk, English-Australian singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Michael Owen, English footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Dean Brogan, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Shedrack Kibet Korir, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Zdeněk Pospěch, Czech footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Patty Schnyder, Swiss tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Kim St-Pierre, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Jamie Peacock, English rugby player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Tammy Blanchard, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Leland Chapman, American bounty hunter Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Sebastien Chaule, French-German rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — André Couto, Portuguese race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Santiago Ezquerro, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Justin Furstenfeld, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Ben Kay, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Billy Koch, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Falk Balzer, German hurdler Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Pat Burke, Irish basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Tomasz Radzinski, Polish-Canadian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Saulius Štombergas, Lithuanian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Miranda Hart, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Marcus Jensen, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Michaela Watkins, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Anna Maria Jopek, Polish singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Beth Orton, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Scott Hatteberg, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Archie Kao, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Arthur Numan, Dutch footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Natascha McElhone, English-Irish actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Kelley Armstrong, Canadian author Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Ewa Białołęcka, Polish author Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Hanne Haugland, Norwegian high jumper and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Fabrizio Giovanardi, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Anthony Mason, American basketball player (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Danish academic and politician, 41st Prime Minister of Denmark Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Bill Ranford, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Tim Sköld, Swedish bass player and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Craig Biggio, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Ken Hill, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Ted Raimi, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Greg Abbott, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Diana Gansky, German discus thrower Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Jeff Robinson, American baseball player (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Patrik Sundström, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Don Franklin, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Chris Waddle, English footballer, manager, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Diane Williams, American sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — James Comey, FBI Director Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Bob Paris, American-Canadian bodybuilder and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Jorge Vaca, Mexican boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Mike Scott, Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Spider Stacy, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Linda Fabiani, Scottish politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Hanni Wenzel, German skier Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Jane Crafter, Australian golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Jill Pipher, American mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Alan Kulwicki, American race car driver (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Steve MacLean, Canadian physicist and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Vijay Amritraj, Indian tennis player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Wade Davis, Canadian anthropologist, author, and photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — René Eespere, Estonian composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Vangelis Meimarakis, Greek lawyer and politician, 4th Greek Minister for National Defence Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Mikael Odenberg, Swedish soldier and politician, 29th Swedish Minister for Defence Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — John Lurie, American actor, saxophonist, painter, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Jan Timman, Dutch chess player and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Bill Buckner, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Cliff Williams, Australian bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Lester Bangs, American journalist and author (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Kim Beazley, Australian politician and diplomat, 9th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Boudewijn Büch, Dutch author, poet, and television host (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Peeter Kreitzberg, Estonian lawyer and politician (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Christopher Parkening, American guitarist and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Dilma Rousseff, Brazilian economist and politician, 36th President of Brazil Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Antony Beevor, English historian and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Jane Birkin, English-French actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — John Du Prez, English conductor and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Patty Duke, American actress (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Ruth Fuchs, German javelin thrower and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Michael Ovitz, American talent agent, co-founded Creative Artists Agency Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Stan Smith, American tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Joyce Vincent Wilson, American singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Graham Kirkham, Baron Kirkham, English businessman, founded DFS Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Tommy McAvoy, Scottish politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Emmett Tyrrell, American journalist, author, and publisher, founded The American Spectator Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Chris Harris, English actor and director (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Dick Wagner, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Karan Armstrong, American soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Ellen Willis, American journalist, critic, and academic (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Lex Gold, Scottish footballer and civil servant Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Ann Cryer, English academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Ernie Davis, American football player (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Leonardo Boff, Brazilian theologian and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Charlie Griffith, Barbadian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Lewis Arquette, American actor, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Lee Remick, American actress (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Shyam Benegal, Indian director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Charlie Hodge, American guitarist and singer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — George Furth, American actor and playwright (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Abbe Lane, American actress, singer, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Charlie Rich, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Jon Elia, Pakistani philosopher, poet, and scholar (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Vladimir-Georg Karassev-Orgusaar, Estonian director and politician (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — David R. Harris, English geographer, anthropologist, and archaeologist (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Margaret Bakkes, South African author (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Ron Jarden, New Zealand rugby player (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Richard Cassilly, American tenor and actor (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Koos Rietkerk, Dutch lawyer and politician, Dutch Minister of the Interior (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Sam Jones, American baseball player (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Raj Kapoor, Pakistani-Indian actor, director, and producer (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Gerard Reve, Dutch-Belgian author and poet (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Nikolay Basov, Russian physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Don Hewitt, American journalist and producer, created 60 Minutes (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Junior J. Spurrier, American sergeant, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Clark Terry, American trumpet player, composer, and educator (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — James T. Aubrey, American broadcaster (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Radu Beligan, Romanian actor and director (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — B. K. S. Iyengar, Indian yoga instructor and author, founded Iyengar Yoga (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — C.-H. Hermansson, Swedish author and politician (d.2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Elyse Knox, American actress and fashion designer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — June Taylor, American dancer and choreographer (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Shirley Jackson, American novelist and short story writer (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Dan Dailey, American dancer and actor (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 14 (Calendar.cx)