Bastille Day (French National Day)
The most significant event in Europe on July 14 is France’s National Day, commonly known as Bastille Day. This date marks the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14, 1789, a pivotal event that ignited the French Revolution and symbolized the end of the absolute monarchy and the birth of the sovereign nation. The storming was both a physical and symbolic act, representing the people’s uprising against royal authority and the oppressive Ancien Régime. The Bastille, a fortress-prison, was seen as a symbol of royal tyranny, and its fall was a rallying point for revolutionaries.
Fête de la Fédération (1790)
On July 14, 1790, exactly one year after the storming of the Bastille, the Fête de la Fédération was held as a massive celebration of national unity and reconciliation. The event took place on the Champ de Mars in Paris, gathering representatives from all regions of France to affirm their allegiance to the new constitutional monarchy and the ideals of the Revolution. The festival was intended to symbolize the unity of the French people and the birth of a new political order.
In 982, King Otto II and his Frankish army were defeated by the Muslim army of al-Qasim at Cape Colonna, Southern Italy.
In 1223, Louis VIII became King of France.
America
The Sedition Act of 1798
On July 14, 1798, the United States Congress passed the Sedition Act, making it a federal crime to write, publish, or utter false or malicious statements about the U.S. government. This controversial law was part of the Alien and Sedition Acts and played a significant role in shaping American debates about free speech and civil liberties.
America’s First Major World’s Fair (1853)
The Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, considered America’s first major World’s Fair, opened in New York City on July 14, 1853. The event showcased industrial innovation and was modeled after London’s Great Exhibition of 1851.
The ‘Little’ Chicago Fire (1874)
On July 14, 1874, a fire in Chicago destroyed 47 acres of the city, including 812 buildings, and resulted in 20 deaths. The disaster led to significant reforms in the city’s fire insurance industry.
Death of Billy the Kid (1881)
Infamous American outlaw Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett outside Fort Sumner, New Mexico, on July 14, 1881. This event became a legendary moment in the history of the American West.
George Washington Carver National Monument (1943)
On July 14, 1943, the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, Missouri, was established as the first U.S. national monument honoring an African American.
Mariner 4 Mars Flyby (1965)
NASA’s Mariner 4 spacecraft performed the first successful flyby of Mars on July 14, 1965, sending back the first close-up images of another planet to Earth. This was a landmark achievement in space exploration.
In 1863, Union naval forces captured Fort Powhatan on the James River in Virginia during the American Civil War.
On July 14, 1964, the United States sent 600 more troops to Vietnam, marking a further escalation of American involvement in the war.
Asia
1636: Aurangzeb Appointed Viceroy of Deccan
On July 14, 1636, Aurangzeb, who would later become the sixth Mughal emperor, was appointed Viceroy of the Deccan region by his father, Emperor Shah Jahan. Aurangzeb’s rule extended over much of the Indian subcontinent for nearly five decades, shaping Mughal history profoundly.
1942: Quit India Resolution Passed
On this day in 1942, the Indian National Congress, during its session at Wardha, passed the Quit India Resolution. This marked a decisive call for complete independence from British colonial rule, authorizing Mahatma Gandhi to launch a mass civil disobedience movement against the British Empire.
1933: Start of the Fifth Encirclement Campaign in China
July 14, 1933, saw the beginning of the Fifth Encirclement Campaign by Chiang Kai-Shek’s Nationalist forces against the Jiangxi Soviet, a stronghold of the Chinese Communist Party. This campaign was a significant military effort aimed at eradicating the Communist Red Army, marking a critical phase in the Chinese Civil War.
1958: Iraqi Coup Overthrows Monarchy
On July 14, 1958, a military coup led by General Abd al-Karim Qasim overthrew the Hashemite monarchy in Iraq. The coup resulted in the assassination of King Faisal II, Crown Prince Abd al-Ilah, and Prime Minister Nuri al-Said. Qasim assumed power as Prime Minister, ending the monarchy and dissolving the Arab Federation of Jordan and Iraq.
In 1915, the McMahon–Hussein Correspondence began, which was a series of letters between Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca, and British official Henry McMahon, concerning the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
In 1960, Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 1-11 ditched off Polillo Island in the Philippines, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.
Africa
Sarah E. Goode Becomes First African American Woman Patent Holder (1885)
On July 14, 1885, Sarah E. Goode became the first African American woman to receive a U.S. patent. She was awarded the patent for her invention of the cabinet bed, a space-saving piece of furniture that could convert from a bed into a desk. This achievement is celebrated as a significant milestone in both African and African American history, highlighting the contributions of Black inventors to technology and society.
John Stanard’s Refrigerator Patent (1891)
On July 14, 1891, John Stanard, another African American inventor, received a patent for his improvement on the refrigerator. His innovation contributed to the development of modern refrigeration technology, which had a broad impact on food preservation and daily life.
On July 14, 1956, the South African rugby team lost the first test match against New Zealand in Dunedin, a notable event in South African sports history.
On July 14, 2013, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited Nigeria for an African Union summit on HIV/AIDS, an event that drew international attention due to his indictment by the International Criminal Court.
