On This Day — February 14

🕰️ Notable Events on February 14

• 2011 — As a part of Arab Spring, the Bahraini uprising begins with a 'Day of Rage'. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Northern Illinois University shooting: A gunman opened fire in a lecture hall of the DeKalb County, Illinois university resulting in six fatalities (including gunman) and 21 injuries. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Lebanese self-made billionaire and business tycoon Rafic Hariri is assassinated in Beirut, along with 21 other people, when the equivalent of around 1,000 kg of TNT is detonated as his motorcade drove near the St. George Hotel. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Seven people are killed and 151 wounded in a series of bombings by suspected al-Qaeda-linked militants that hit Makati, Davao City, and General Santos City, all in the Philippines. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — YouTube is launched by a group of college students, eventually becoming the largest video sharing website in the world and a main source for viral videos. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — In a suburb of Moscow, Russia, the roof of the Transvaal water park collapses, killing more than 25 people, and wounding more than 100 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — The spacecraft NEAR Shoemaker enters orbit around asteroid 433 Eros, the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — An oil tanker train collides with a freight train in Yaoundé, Cameroon, spilling fuel oil. One person scavenging the oil created a massive explosion which kills 120. Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Ninety-two people are killed when Indian Airlines Flight 605 crashes in Bangalore, India. Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — The Voyager 1 spacecraft takes the photograph of planet Earth that later become famous as Pale Blue Dot. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Union Carbide agrees to pay $470 million to the Indian government for damages it caused in the 1984 Bhopal disaster. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issues a fatwa encouraging Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses. Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — United American Bank of Knoxville, Tennessee collapses. Its president, Jake Butcher, is later convicted of fraud. Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — In Kabul, Setami Milli militants kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs who is later killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Australian currency is decimalized. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Discovery of the chemical elements: Element 103, Lawrencium, is first synthesized at the University of California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union begins in Moscow. On the last night of the meeting, Premier Nikita Khrushchev condemns Joseph Stalin's crimes in a secret speech. Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Chinese Civil War: The National Revolutionary Army instigates the unsuccessful Battle of Tianquan against the People's Liberation Army. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — The Knesset (Israeli parliament) convenes for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — The Asbestos Strike begins in Canada. The strike marks the beginning of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — The Bank of England is nationalized. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: On the first day of the bombing of Dresden, the British Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces begin fire-bombing Dresden. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: Navigational error leads to the mistaken bombing of Prague, Czechoslovakia by an American squadron of B-17s assisting in the Soviet's Vistula-Oder Offensive. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: Mostar is liberated by Yugoslav partisans Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — President Franklin D. Roosevelt meets with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia aboard the USS Quincy, officially beginning U.S.-Saudi diplomatic relations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: In the Action of 14 February 1944, a British submarine sinks a German-controlled Italian submarine in the Strait of Malacca. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: Rostov-on-Don, Russia is liberated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: Tunisia Campaign: General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim's Fifth Panzer Army launches a concerted attack against Allied positions in Tunisia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Battle of Pasir Panjang contributes to the fall of Singapore. Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Saint Valentine's Day Massacre: Seven people, six of them gangster rivals of Al Capone's gang, are murdered in Chicago. Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company changes its name to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — The League of Women Voters is founded in Chicago. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — The Polish-Soviet War begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — The Soviet Union adopts the Gregorian calendar (on 1 February according to the Julian calendar). Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Arizona is admitted as the 48th U.S. state. Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — The US Navy commissions its first class of diesel-powered submarines. Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — The United States Department of Commerce and Labor is established (later split into the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor). Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — British forces begin the Battle of the Tugela Heights in an effort to lift the Siege of Ladysmith. Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Voting machines are approved by the U.S. Congress for use in federal elections. Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — The War of the Pacific breaks out when Chilean armed forces occupy the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta. Wikipedia ↗
• 1876 — Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone, as does Elisha Gray. Wikipedia ↗
• 1859 — Oregon is admitted as the 33rd U.S. state. Wikipedia ↗
• 1855 — Texas is linked by telegraph to the rest of the United States, with the completion of a connection between New Orleans and Marshall, Texas. Wikipedia ↗
• 1852 — Great Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children, the first hospital in England to provide in-patient beds specifically for children, is founded in London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1849 — In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes the first serving President of the United States to have his photograph taken. Wikipedia ↗
• 1835 — The original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in the Latter Day Saint movement, is formed in Kirtland, Ohio. Wikipedia ↗
• 1831 — Ras Marye of Yejju marches into Tigray and defeats and kills Dejazmach Sabagadis in the Battle of Debre Abbay. Wikipedia ↗
• 1804 — Karađorđe leads the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Wikipedia ↗
• 1797 — French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Cape St. Vincent: John Jervis, (later 1st Earl of St Vincent) and Horatio Nelson (later 1st Viscount Nelson) lead the British Royal Navy to victory over a Spanish fleet in action near Gibraltar. Wikipedia ↗
• 1779 — American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Kettle Creek is fought in Georgia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1779 — James Cook is killed by Native Hawaiians near Kealakekua on the Island of Hawaii. Wikipedia ↗
• 1778 — The United States flag is formally recognized by a foreign naval vessel for the first time, when French Admiral Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte renders a nine gun salute to USS Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones. Wikipedia ↗
• 1655 — Arauco War: The Mapuche under their elected military leader, Clentaru, rise up against the Spanish in an insurrection in present-day central Chile. Wikipedia ↗
• 1556 — Thomas Cranmer is declared a heretic. Wikipedia ↗
• 1556 — Coronation of Akbar. Wikipedia ↗
• 1530 — Spanish conquistadores, led by Nuño de Guzmán, overthrow and execute Tangaxuan II, the last independent monarch of the Tarascan state in present-day central Mexico. Wikipedia ↗
• 1502 — Spanish Inquisition: The Catholic Monarchs issue a decree forcing Muslims in Granada to convert to Catholicism or leave Spain. Wikipedia ↗
• 1400 — Richard II of England dies, most probably from starvation, in Pontefract Castle, on the orders of Henry Bolingbroke. Wikipedia ↗
• 1349 — Several hundred Jews are burned to death by mobs while the remaining Jews are forcibly removed from Strasbourg. Wikipedia ↗
• 1130 — Pope Innocent II is elected. Wikipedia ↗
• 1076 — Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. Wikipedia ↗
• 1014 — Pope Benedict VIII crowns Henry of Bavaria, King of Germany and of Italy, as Holy Roman Emperor. Wikipedia ↗
• 842 — Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German languages. Wikipedia ↗
• 748 — Abbasid Revolution: The Hashimi rebels under Abu Muslim Khorasani take Merv, capital of the Umayyad province Khorasan, marking the consolidation of the Abbasid revolt. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on February 14

• 1993 — Shane Harper, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Christian Eriksen, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Freddie Highmore, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Daniela Mona Lambin, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Chris Rowney, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Rilwan Waheed, Maldivian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Sefa Yılmaz, German-Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Néstor Calderón, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Adam Matuszczyk, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Emma Miskew, Canadian curler Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Brandon Sutter, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Kristian Thomas, English gymnast Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Katie Boland, Canadian actress, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Ángel Di María, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Siim Liivik, Estonian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Asia Nitollano, American singer and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Edinson Cavani, Uruguayan footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Tom Pyatt, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — David Wheater, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Michael Ammermüller, German race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Oliver Lee, English actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Gao Lin, Chinese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Karima Adebibe, English model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Tyler Clippard, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Heart Evangelista, Filipino singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Philippe Senderos, Swiss footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Miki Yeung, Hong Kong singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Callix Crabbe, Virgin Islander baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Rocky Elsom, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Bacary Sagna, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Marián Gáborík, Slovak ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — John Halls, English footballer and model Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Lenka Tvarošková, Slovak tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Matteo Brighi, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Randy de Puniet, French motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Brad Halsey, American baseball player (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Josh Senter, American screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Michelle Ye, Hong Kong actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Richard Hamilton, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Darius Songaila, Lithuanian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Cadel Evans, Australian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Jim Jefferies, Australian comedian and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Darren Purse, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Elmer Symons, South African motorcycle racer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Anna Erschler, Russian mathematician Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Robert J. Jackson Jr., American Corporate & Securities Law Professor Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Liv Kristine, Norwegian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Rie Rasmussen, Danish model, film director, writer, photographer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Valentina Vezzali, Italian fencer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — H. D. Ackerman, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Tyus Edney, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Steve McNair, American football player (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Annalisa Buffa, Italian mathematician Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Drew Bledsoe, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Musōyama Masashi, Japanese sumo wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Jaan Tallinn, Estonian computer programmer, co-developed Skype Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Rob Thomas, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Kris Aquino, Filipino talk show host, actress, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Gheorghe Mureșan, Romanian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Giuseppe Guerini, Italian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Sean Hill, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Simon Pegg, English actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Meg Hillier, English journalist and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Jules Asner, American model and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Chris Lewis, Guyanese-English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Scott McClellan, American civil servant and author, 25th White House Press Secretary Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Greek-English businessman, founded easyJet Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Manuela Maleeva, Bulgarian-Swiss tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Mark Rutte, Dutch businessman and politician, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Petr Svoboda, Czech ice hockey player and agent Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Gianni Bugno, Italian cyclist and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Valente Rodriguez, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Enrico Colantoni, Canadian actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — John Marzano, American baseball player (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Philip Jones, English admiral Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Jim Kelly, American football player and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Meg Tilly, American actress and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Renée Fleming, American soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Grant Thomas, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Alan Hunter, American television host and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Soile Isokoski, Finnish soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Alan Smith, English bishop Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Howard Davis, Jr., American boxer and trainer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Dave Dravecky, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Katharina Fritsch, German sculptor and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Carol Kalish, American publisher (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Jam Mohammad Yousaf, Pakistani politician, Chief Minister of Balochistan (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Sushma Swaraj, Indian lawyer and politician, Indian Minister of External Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Terry Gross, American radio host and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Kevin Keegan, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Roger Fisher, American guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Kitten Natividad, Mexican-American actress and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Pat O'Brien, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Wally Tax, Dutch singer-songwriter (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Teller, American magician and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Tim Buckley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Judd Gregg, American lawyer and politician, 76th Governor of New Hampshire Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Bernard Dowiyogo, Nauru politician, President of Nauru (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Gregory Hines, American actor, singer, and dancer (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Rod Masterson, American lieutenant and actor (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Carl Bernstein, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Alan Parker, English director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Ronnie Peterson, Swedish race car driver (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Eric Andersen, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Maceo Parker, American saxophonist Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Aaron Russo, American director and producer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Michael Bloomberg, American businessman and politician, 108th Mayor of New York City Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Andrew Robinson, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Ricardo Rodríguez, Mexican race car driver (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Donna Shalala, American academic and politician, 18th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Paul Tsongas, American lawyer and politician (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — James Maynard, American businessman, co-founded Golden Corral Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Razzy Bailey, American country music singer-songwriter ans musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Blowfly, American singer-songwriter and producer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Eugene Fama, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — John MacGregor, Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market, English politician, Secretary of State for Transport Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Magic Sam, American singer and guitarist (d. 1969) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn, Scottish academic and diplomat, 27th Governor of Hong Kong Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Florence Henderson, American actress and singer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Harriet Andersson, Swedish actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Bernie Geoffrion, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Brian Kelly, American actor and director (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Vic Morrow, American actor and director (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — William Allain, American soldier and politician, 58th Governor of Mississippi (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Vicente T. Blaz, American general and politician (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Lois Maxwell, Canadian-Australian model and actress (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Jay Hebert, American golfer (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Hugh Downs, American journalist, game show host, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Hazel McCallion, Canadian businesswoman and politician, 3rd Mayor of Mississauga Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Herbert A. Hauptman, American mathematician and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Marcel Bigeard, French general (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Sally Gray, English actress and singer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Masaki Kobayashi, Japanese director and producer (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Edward Platt, American actor (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on February 14 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on February 14

✡️ Religious Observances

• Jewish: Shabbat Shekalim