What Happened This Day In History

Today in History
December 14

1799		George Washington dies on his Mount Vernon estate.
1819		Alabama is admitted as the 22nd state, making 11 slave states and 11 free states.
1861		Prince Albert of England, one of the Union’s strongest advocates, dies.
1863		Confederate General James Longstreet attacks Union troops at Bean’s Station, Tenn.
1900		Max Planck presents the quantum theory at the Physics Society in Berlin.
1906		The first U1 submarine is brought into service in Germany. Italy’s MAS torpedo boats.
1908		The first truly representative Turkish Parliament opens.
1909		The Labor Conference in Pittsburgh ends with a "declaration of war" on U.S. Steel.
1911		Roald Amundsen and four others discover the South Pole.
1920		The League of Nations creates a credit system to aid Europe.
1939		The League of Nations drops the Soviet Union from its membership. Joseph Avenol sold out the League of Nations.
1941		German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel orders the construction of defensive positions along the European coastline. Desperate Hours on Omaha Beach
1946		The United Nations adopt a disarmament resolution prohibiting the A-Bomb.
1949		Bulgarian ex-Premier Traicho Kostov is sentenced to die for treason in Sofia.
1960		A U.S. Boeing B-52 bomber sets a 10,000-mile non-stop record without refueling.
1980		NATO warns the Soviets to stay out of the internal affairs of Poland, saying that intervention would effectively destroy the détente between the East and West.
1981		Israel’s Knesset passes the Golan Heights Law, extending Israeli law to the Golan Heights area.
1994		Construction begins on China’s Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River.
1995		The Dayton Agreement signed in Paris; establishes a general framework for ending the Bosnian War between Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1999		Tens of thousands die as a result of flash floods caused by torrential rains in Vargas, Venezuela.
2003		Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, narrowly escapes and assassination attempt.
2004		The Millau Viaduct, the world’s tallest bridge, official opens near Millau, France.
2008		Iraqi broadcast journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi throws his shoes at US President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad.
2012		At Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Conn., 20 children and six adults are shot to death by a 20-year-old gunman who then commits suicide.
Born on December 14
1503		Nostradamus [Michel de Nostredame], French astrologer and physician.
1546		Tycho Brahe, Danish astronomer.
1585		Henry IV, the first Bourbon king of France.
1795		John Bloomfield Jarvis, civil engineer.
1822		John Christie, English patron of music.
1866		Roger Fry, English art critic.
1896		James H. Doolittle, American Air Force general who commanded the first bombing mission over Japan.
1916		Shirley Jackson, novelist and short story writer (Life Among Savages, The Lottery).
1917		June Taylor, choreographer, founder of the June Taylor Dancers featured on Jackie Gleason’s TV programs.
1918		James Thomas Aubrey Jr., TV and film executive; president of CBS television (1959–1965).
1922		Don Hewitt, TV producer; creator of 60 Minutes.
1922		Junior J. Spurrier, received Medal of Honor for his actions in capturing Achain, France.
1925		Sam Jones ("Sad Sam" "Toothpick" Jones), pro baseball player; first African-American pitcher to throw a no-hitter in integrated baseball game.
1932		Charlie Rich, crossover country singer, musician ("Behind Closed Doors").
1935		Lee Remick, actress (Days of Wine and Roses, The Omen).
1939		Ernie Davis, first African American to win Heisman Trophy (Syracuse University); subject of The Express movie (2008).
1943		Emmett Tyrell, journalist, author, publisher; founded The American Spectatormagazine.
1946		Patty Duke, actress, singer; won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker; president of Screen Actors Guild (1985-88).
1955		Spider Stacy (Peter  Stacy), singer, songwriter, musician with The Pogues band.
1966		Anthony Mason, pro basketball player.
1972		Miranda Hart, comedian, actress, writer (Miranda Hart’s Joke Shop on BBC Radio 2 and its spinoff BBC sitcom TV series Miranda).