April 14 in History

Historical Events on April 14

1775 The first abolition society in North America is established. The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage is organized in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush.

1865 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is shot in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth; Lincoln died the next day.

1912 The British passenger liner RMS Titanic hits an iceberg in the North Atlantic at 23:40 (sinks morning of April 15th).

1940 World War II: Royal Marines land in Namsos, Norway in preparation for a larger force to arrive two days later.

1941 World War II: German general Erwin Rommel attacks Tobruk.

1942 Malta receives the George Cross for its gallantry. The George Cross was given by King George VI himself and is now an emblem on the Maltese national flag.

1958 The Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 falls from orbit after a mission duration of 162 days. This was the first spacecraft to carry a living animal, a female dog named Laika, who likely lived only a few hours.

1991 The Republic of Georgia introduces the post of President after its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.

2002 Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez returns to office two days after being ousted and arrested by the country's military.

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Famous Birthdays on April 14

1629 Christiaan Huygens

1891 B. R. Ambedkar

1925 Rod Steiger

1977 Sarah Michelle Gellar

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Famous Deaths on April 14

1759 George Frideric Handel

1910 Mikhail Vrubel

1935 Emmy Noether

1950 Ramana Maharshi

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