Europa
- St. Lucia’s Flood (1287)
On December 14, 1287, the Zuiderzee sea wall in the Netherlands collapsed, causing the catastrophic St. Lucia’s flood. This disaster killed more than 50,000 people in northern Germany and the Netherlands, making it one of the deadliest floods in European history. - Mary, Queen of Scots (1542)
On this day in 1542, six-day-old Mary Stuart became Queen of Scots following the death of her father, James V of Scotland. This event marked the beginning of one of the most dramatic reigns in Scottish and European royal history. - Death of Prince Albert (1861)
Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, died at Windsor Castle on December 14, 1861. His death deeply affected Queen Victoria, who entered a prolonged period of mourning that influenced British royal customs for decades. - Roald Amundsen Reaches the South Pole (1911)
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole on December 14, 1911. While this event occurred in Antarctica, it was a major achievement for Europe, particularly for Norway, and is a landmark in the history of exploration. - Women Vote in the UK (1918)
December 14, 1918, marked the first time British women voted in a general election and were allowed to run for office, a significant milestone in the history of women’s rights in Europe. - USSR Expelled from the League of Nations (1939)
On this day in 1939, the League of Nations expelled the Soviet Union for its aggression against Finland during the Winter War, a key moment in pre-World War II European diplomacy. - EU Opens Accession Talks with Ukraine (2023)
On December 14, 2023, the European Union formally opened accession negotiations with Ukraine, a major political development for Europe and the future of the EU.
America
- Death of George Washington (1799)
On December 14, 1799, George Washington, the first President of the United States and a central figure in the nation’s founding, died at his Mount Vernon estate at the age of 67. His passing marked the end of an era and had a profound impact on the young nation. - Alabama Becomes a State (1819)
Alabama was admitted as the 22nd state of the United States on December 14, 1819, balancing the number of slave and free states at the time. - Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting (2012)
On December 14, 2012, a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, resulted in the deaths of 20 children and 6 adults, making it one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. - Alexander Hamilton Marries Elizabeth Schuyler (1780)
Founding Father Alexander Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York, on this day in 1780. - Confederate Victory at the Battle of Bean’s Station (1863)
During the American Civil War, Confederate General James Longstreet achieved a victory at the Battle of Bean’s Station in East Tennessee, though the strategic impact was limited. - First Pacific Telegraph Cable (1902)
The Commercial Pacific Cable Company laid the first Pacific telegraph cable from San Francisco to Honolulu, connecting the U.S. mainland to Hawaii and advancing transpacific communications. - Motown Record Label Founded (1959)
Berry Gordy founded the Motown record label in Detroit, Michigan, launching a musical movement that would have a lasting impact on American and global culture. - NASCAR Founded (1947)
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was founded in Daytona Beach, Florida, on December 14, 1947, shaping the future of American motorsports.
Asia
- Sweet Dew Incident in Tang Dynasty China (835)
On December 14, 835, the Sweet Dew Incident took place. Emperor Wenzong of the Tang dynasty conspired to eliminate the powerful eunuchs of the Tang court, but the plot failed, resulting in the massacre of many officials and further consolidating eunuch power in imperial China. - Bangladesh Martyred Intellectuals Day (1971)
December 14 is commemorated in Bangladesh as Martyred Intellectuals Day. On this day in 1971, during the final days of the Bangladesh Liberation War, more than 200 of East Pakistan’s leading intellectuals—professors, journalists, doctors, and artists—were executed by the Pakistan Army and their local collaborators. This event is remembered as a targeted effort to cripple the emerging nation’s intellectual foundation. - Qasba Aligarh Massacre in Pakistan (1986)
On December 14, 1986, the Qasba Aligarh massacre occurred in Karachi, Pakistan. Over 400 Muhajirs (Muslim immigrants from India) were killed in revenge attacks following a security forces raid on a Pashtun heroin processing and distribution center in Sohrab Goth. This event was one of the deadliest episodes of ethnic violence in Karachi’s history. - Construction Begins on China’s Three Gorges Dam (1994)
Construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station, began on the Yangtze River in China on December 14, 1994. The project would later become a symbol of China’s modernization and environmental controversy.
Africa
- North African Campaign – World War II (1941)
On December 14, 1941, during the North African Campaign of World War II, Indian troops repelled repeated Panzer (German tank) attacks on Point 204 in Libya. This was a significant episode in the broader Allied efforts to push Axis forces out of North Africa, with Indian, British, and Commonwealth forces playing a key role in the fighting across Libya and Egypt. - Tanzania Joins the United Nations (1961)
On December 14, 1961, Tanzania (then recently formed from the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar) was admitted as a member of the United Nations. This marked a major step in the country’s emergence on the world stage following independence from British colonial rule. - Nelson Mandela Launches “Long Walk to Freedom” (1994)
On December 14, 1994, Nelson Mandela officially launched his autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom.” The book chronicles his life and the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, becoming a defining work in African and global literature.
This day in history: 14 december