On This Day August 14th

 OTD 

August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 139 days remain until the end of the year.

Events

1264 – 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.

1592 – The first sighting of the Falkland Islands by John Davis.

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

1816 – The United Kingdom formally annexes the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, administering the islands from the Cape Colony in South Africa.

1842 – American Indian Wars: Second Seminole War ends, with the Seminoles forced from Florida.

1848 – Oregon Territory is organized by act of Congress.

1920 – The 1920 Summer Olympics, having started four months earlier, officially opened 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.

1941 – World War II: Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter of War stating postwar aims.

1959 – Founding and first official meeting of the American Football League.

1980 – Lech Wałęsa leads strikes at the Gdansk, Poland shipyards.

2015 – The U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, re-opens after 54 years of being closed when Cuba–United States relations were broken off.

2021 – A magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes southwestern Haiti, killing at least 2,248 people and causing a humanitarian crisis.


Birthdays

1738 – Leopold Hofmann, Austrian composer, and conductor (d. 1793)

1777 – Hans Christian Ørsted, Danish physicist and chemist (d. 1851)

1851 – Doc Holliday, American dentist, and gambler (d. 1887)

1867 – John Galsworthy, English novelist, and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1933)

1881 – Francis Ford, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1953)

1890 – Bruno Tesch, German chemist, and businessman (d. 1946)

1912 – Frank Oppenheimer, American physicist and academic (d. 1985)

1916 – Wellington Mara, American businessman (d. 2005)

1930 – Earl Weaver, American baseball player, and manager (d. 2013)

1941 – Connie Smith, American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist

1945 – Steve Martin, American actor, comedian, musician, producer, and screenwriter.

1950 – Gary Larson, American cartoonist.

1959 – Magic Johnson, American basketball player and coach

1987 – Tim Tebow, American football and baseball player and sportscaster.


Holidays & Observance

Navajo Code Talkers Day

The Navajo Code Talkers, unsung heroes of World War II, played a pivotal role in securing the American victory through their ingenious use of the Navajo language as an unbreakable code. The story began in 1942 when Philip Johnston, drawing on his upbringing in the Navajo Nation, proposed using the Navajo language to secure communication for military operations in the Pacific. The U.S. government swiftly embraced this groundbreaking idea.

Over 400 Navajo men were recruited for this crucial mission. They developed a complex code based on their native language, creating a system that confounded enemy codebreakers. The Navajo Code Talkers transmitted over 800 messages during the war without a single error. Their efforts became an instrumental factor in the success of various military operations.

This invaluable contribution helped secure vital victories and preserved countless lives. Their coded messages provided a level of security that was unmatched, giving American forces a significant advantage. Their dedication, resilience, and quick thinking under pressure showcased their unwavering commitment to their country.

In recognition of their exceptional service, Navajo Code Talkers Day was established, with Arizona even designating August 14 as a state holiday to honor their bravery. These remarkable individuals, hailed as "American heroes" by many, demonstrate the impact that diverse skills and innovative ideas can have in times of crisis. The Navajo Code Talkers' legacy is a testament to the power of language, ingenuity, and the significant role indigenous communities play in shaping history.


Others Include

Anniversary of the Recovery Oued Ed-Dahab

Falklands Day

National Spirit of '45 Day

Pakistan Independence Day


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