May 14 in History

Historical Events on May 14

1643 Four-year-old Louis XIV becomes King of France upon the death of his father, Louis XIII.

1787 In Philadelphia, delegates convene a Constitutional Convention to write a new Constitution for the United States; George Washington presides.

1863 American Civil War: The Battle of Jackson takes place.

1925 Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs Dalloway is published.

1935 The Philippines ratifies an independence agreement.

1940 World War II: Rotterdam is bombed by the German Luftwaffe.

1948 Israel is declared to be an independent state and a provisional government is established. Immediately after the declaration, Israel is attacked by the neighboring Arab states, triggering the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

1955 Cold War: Eight Communist bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, sign a mutual defense treaty called the Warsaw Pact.

1961 Civil Rights Movement: The Freedom Riders bus is fire-bombed near Anniston, Alabama, and the civil rights protesters are beaten by an angry mob.

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Famous Birthdays on May 14

1316 Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor

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Famous Deaths on May 14

1881 Mary Seacole

1912 August Strindberg

1940 Emma Goldman

1998 Frank Sinatra

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