August 14 in History

Slaves from plantations in Saint-Domingue hold a Vodou ceremony led by houngan D

1791 — Slaves from plantations in Saint-Domingue hold a Vodou ceremony led by houngan Dutty Boukman at Bois Caïman, marking the start of the Haitian Revolution

August 14 spans 57 recorded events across recorded history, from 74 BC to 2023. Below is a curated digest of the most significant moments tied to this date.

By · — Wikipedia

Historical Events 57 events 74 BC – 2023

More major events on August 14

The featured story and these ranked highlights form a quick summary. Every recorded event remains available in the chronology below.

  1. 1885 Japan's first patent is issued to the inventor of a rust-proof paint. Source
  2. 1959 Founding and first official meeting of the American Football League. Source
  3. 1941 World War II: Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter of war stating postwar aims. Source

Did you know

In 1791, Slaves from plantations in Saint-Domingue hold a Vodou ceremony led by houngan Dutty Boukman at Bois Caïman, marking the start of the Haitian Revolution. This featured entry focuses on the immediate decision and its direct historical impact.

Did you know

Saint-Domingue was a French colony in the western portion of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, in the area of modern-day Haiti, from 1659 to 1803. This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.

Did you know

The name derives from the Spanish main city on the island, Santo Domingo, which came to refer specifically to the Spanish-held Captaincy General of Santo Domingo, now the Dominican Republic. This clarifies the institutional and public response around the event.

Did you know

The borders between the two were fluid and changed over time until they were finally solidified in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844. This shows how the event shaped policy and public communication in the same period.

Did you know

In 1791, Slaves from plantations in Saint-Domingue hold a Vodou ceremony led by houngan Dutty Boukman at Bois Caïman, marking the start of the Haitian Revolution had consequences that extended beyond the first headline. The key context is the institutions involved, the policy shift, and how the public response evolved afterward.

-74 Han_dynasty
A group of officials, led by the Western Han minister Huo Guang, present articles of impeachment against the new emperor, Liu He, to the imperial regent, Empress Dowager Shangguan.
Imperial dynasty in China (202 BC – 220 AD)
Wikipedia source
-70
Gaius Verres is found guilty of corruption after his defense lawyer Quintus Hortensius abandons the case as hopeless.
Roman politician, enemy of Cicero
Wikipedia source
-29 Augustus
Octavian holds the second of three consecutive triumphs in Rome to celebrate the victory over the Dalmatian tribes.
Roman emperor from 27 BC to AD 14
Wikipedia source
1040
King Duncan I is killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth.
The latter succeeds him as King of Scotland.
Wikipedia source
1136 Al-Rashid_Billah
Abbasid Caliph al-Rashid Billah flees from Bagdhad, which had been besieged by an army of the Seljuk Turks under Sultan Ghiyath ad-Din Mas'ud for fifty days.
Abbasid caliph in Baghdad (r. 1135–1136)
Wikipedia source
1183 Taira_no_Munemori
Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures and flee to western Japan to escape pursuit by the Minamoto clan.
12th-century Japanese military leader
Wikipedia source
1264 Republic_of_Venice
After tricking the Venetian galley fleet into sailing east to the Levant, the Genoese capture an entire Venetian trade convoy at the Battle of Saseno.
Maritime republic in Italy (697–1797)
Wikipedia source
1352 War_of_the_Breton_Succession
War of the Breton Succession: Anglo-Bretons defeat the French in the Battle of Mauron.
Part of the Hundred Years' War (1341 to 1365)
Wikipedia source
1370 Charles_IV,_Holy_Roman_Emperor
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, grants city privileges to Karlovy Vary.
Holy Roman Emperor from 1355 to 1378
Wikipedia source
1385 1383–1385_Portuguese_interregnum
Portuguese Crisis of 1383–85: Battle of Aljubarrota: Portuguese forces commanded by John I of Portugal defeat the Castilian army of John I of Castile.
Period of history
Wikipedia source
1592 Falkland_Islands
The first sighting of the Falkland Islands by John Davis.
Group of islands in the South Atlantic
Wikipedia source
1598 Nine_Years'_War_(Ireland)
Nine Years' War: Battle of the Yellow Ford: Irish forces under Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, defeat an English expeditionary force under Henry Bagenal.
1593–1603 Irish war against Tudor conquest
Wikipedia source
1720 Villasur_expedition
The Spanish military Villasur expedition is defeated by Pawnee and Otoe warriors near present-day Columbus, Nebraska.
1720 Spanish expedition in North America
Wikipedia source
1784 Russian_colonization_of_North_America
Russian colonization of North America: Awa'uq Massacre: The Russian fur trader Grigory Shelikhov storms a Kodiak Island Alutiit refuge rock on Sitkalidak Island, killing 500+ Alutiit.
Wikipedia source
1790 Treaty_of_Värälä
The Treaty of Wereloe ended the 1788–1790 Russo-Swedish War.
1790 peace treaty ending the Russo-Swedish War
Wikipedia source
1814
A cease fire agreement, called the Convention of Moss, ended the Swedish–Norwegian War.
1814 ceasefire agreement between Sweden and Norway
Wikipedia source
1816 Tristan_da_Cunha
The United Kingdom formally annexes the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, administering the islands from the Cape Colony in South Africa.
Group of islands in the South Atlantic
Wikipedia source
1842 American_Indian_Wars
American Indian Wars: Second Seminole War ends, with the Seminoles forced from Florida.
Frontier conflicts in North America, 1609–1890s
Wikipedia source
1848 Oregon_Territory
Oregon Territory is organized by act of Congress.
U.S. Territory (1848–1859)
Wikipedia source
1848 Post-unification_Italian_brigandage
Pica Law (Legge Pica), a form of martial law, is established as the Italian government passes this anti-brigandage law to suppress resistance to Italian Unification.
1861–1865 conflict in Southern Italy
Wikipedia source
1880 Cologne_Cathedral
Construction of Cologne Cathedral, the most famous landmark in Cologne, Germany, is completed.
Historic church in Cologne, Germany
Wikipedia source
1885
Japan's first patent is issued to the inventor of a rust-proof paint.
Aspect of Japanese law
Wikipedia source
1893 Vehicle_registration_plate
France becomes the first country to introduce motor vehicle registration.
Unique vehicle identifier
Wikipedia source
1900 Battle_of_Peking_(1900)
Battle of Peking: The Eight-Nation Alliance occupies Beijing, China, in a campaign to end the bloody Boxer Rebellion in China.
Battle of the Boxer Rebellion
Wikipedia source
1901 Aviation
The first claimed powered flight, by Gustave Whitehead in his Number 21.
Activities surrounding aircraft industry
Wikipedia source
1914 World_War_I
World War I: Start of the Battle of Lorraine, an unsuccessful French offensive.
Global conflict from 1914 to 1918
Wikipedia source
1917
World War I: The Republic of China, which had heretofore been shipping labourers to Europe to assist in the war effort, officially declares war on the Central Powers, although it will continue to send to Europe labourers instead of combatants for the remaining duration of the war.
Government of China from 1912 to 1928
Wikipedia source
1920 1920_Summer_Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, having started four months earlier, officially open in Antwerp, Belgium, with the newly adopted Olympic flag and the Olympic oath being raised and taken at the Opening Ceremony for the first time in Olympic history.
Multi-sport event in Antwerp, Belgium
Wikipedia source
1921 Tannu_Uriankhai
Tannu Uriankhai, later Tuvan People's Republic is established as a completely independent country (which is supported by Soviet Russia).
1757–1911 Tuvan region of the Qing dynasty
Wikipedia source
1933 Wildfire
Loggers cause a forest fire in the Coast Range of Oregon, later known as the first forest fire of the Tillamook Burn; destroying 240,000 acres (970 km2) of land.
Uncontrolled fire in forests or open spaces
Wikipedia source
1935 Franklin_D._Roosevelt
Franklin D.
Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, creating a government pension system for the retired.
Wikipedia source
1936 Rainey_Bethea
Rainey Bethea is hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky in the last known public execution in the United States.
Last United States criminal to be publicly executed (c. 1909–1936)
Wikipedia source
1941 World_War_II
World War II: Winston Churchill and Franklin D.
Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter of war stating postwar aims.
Wikipedia source
1947 Pakistan
Pakistan gains independence from the British Empire as the Dominion of Pakistan, due to the partition of India.
Country in South Asia
Wikipedia source
1948 Idaho_Department_of_Fish_and_Game
An Idaho Department of Fish and Game program to relocate beavers known as Beaver drop occurred.
This program relocated beavers from Northwestern Idaho to Central Idaho by airplane and then parachuting the beavers into the Chamberlain Basin.
Wikipedia source
1959 American_Football_League
Founding and first official meeting of the American Football League.
League that merged with the NFL in 1970
Wikipedia source
1967 Marine,_&c.,_Broadcasting_(Offences)_Act_1967
UK Marine Broadcasting Offences Act 1967 declares participation in offshore pirate radio illegal.
Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Wikipedia source
1969 The_Troubles
The Troubles: British troops are deployed in Northern Ireland as political and sectarian violence breaks out, marking the start of the 37-year Operation Banner.
1960s–1998 conflict in Northern Ireland
Wikipedia source
1971 Bahrain
Bahrain declares independence from Britain.
Country in West Asia
Wikipedia source
1972 Interflug_Flight_450
An Ilyushin Il-62 airliner crashes near Königs Wusterhausen, East Germany killing 156 people.
Fatal passenger plane crash in Schönefeld, East Germany
Wikipedia source
1974 Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus
Turkey launches the second phase of the invasion of Cyprus, which eventually resulted in the Turkish occupation of 37% of Cyprus.
1974 military conflict
Wikipedia source
1980 Lech_Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa leads strikes at the Gdańsk, Poland shipyards.
President of Poland from 1990 to 1995
Wikipedia source
1994 Carlos_the_Jackal
Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, also known as "Carlos the Jackal", is captured.
Venezuelan-born international terror operative (born 1949)
Wikipedia source
1996 Killing_of_Solomos_Solomou
Greek Cypriot refugee Solomos Solomou is shot and killed by a Turkish security officer while trying to climb a flagpole in order to remove a Turkish flag from its mast in the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus.
1996 killing of a Greek Cypriot by Turkish forces in the Cyprus UN buffer zone
Wikipedia source
2003 Northeast_blackout_of_2003
A widescale power blackout affects the northeast United States and Canada.
Power outage in North America
Wikipedia source
2005 Helios_Airways_Flight_522
Helios Airways Flight 522, en route from Larnaca, Cyprus to Prague, Czech Republic via Athens, crashes in the hills near Grammatiko, Greece, killing 121 passengers and crew.
2005 aviation accident in Greece
Wikipedia source
2006 2006_Lebanon_War
Lebanon War: A ceasefire takes effect three days after the United Nations Security Council's approval of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, formally ending hostilities between Lebanon and Israel.
Armed conflict primarily between Israel and Hezbollah
Wikipedia source
2006 Sri_Lankan_civil_war
Sri Lankan Civil War: Sixty-one schoolgirls killed in Chencholai bombing by Sri Lanka Air Force air strike.
1983–2009 Sri Lankan internal conflict
Wikipedia source
2007
The Kahtaniya bombings kill at least 500 people.
2007 suicide car bombings in Iraq
Wikipedia source
2013 Egypt
Egypt declares a state of emergency as security forces kill hundreds of demonstrators supporting former president Mohamed Morsi.
Country in North Africa
Wikipedia source
2013 UPS_Airlines_Flight_1354
UPS Airlines Flight 1354 crashes short of the runway at Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport, killing both crew members on board.
2013 aviation accident in Alabama
Wikipedia source
2015 Embassy_of_the_United_States,_Havana
The U.S.
Embassy in Havana, Cuba re-opens after 54 years of being closed when Cuba–United States relations were broken off.
Wikipedia source
2018 Ponte_Morandi_collapse
The collapse of the Ponte Morandi bridge in Genoa, Italy, left 16 people injured and 43 people killed.
Bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy
Wikipedia source
2021 2021_Haiti_earthquake
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes southwestern Haiti, killing at least 2,248 people and causing a humanitarian crisis.
7.2-magnitude earthquake in Tiburon Peninsula, Haiti
Wikipedia source
2022 2022_Yerevan_explosion
An explosion destroys a market in Armenia, killing six people and injuring dozens.
Fatal fire in Yerevan, Armenia
Wikipedia source
2023 Donald_Trump
Former U.S.
president Donald Trump is charged in Georgia along with 18 others in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election in that state, his fourth indictment of 2023.
Wikipedia source

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