A massive fire engulfed Grenfell Tower in London, killing 72 people
The 24-story residential building became an inferno due to flammable cladding on the exterior. Residents had repeatedly warned about fire safety issue...
June 14 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
2017
2002
An asteroid the size of a soccer field missed Earth by just 75,000 miles, the closest recorded near-miss
Astronomers didn't spot asteroid 2002 MN until three days after it passed by. It came closer than many satellites and would have caused massive destru...
1993
A jury awarded $2.9 million to a woman who sued after spilling hot McDonald's coffee on herself
Stella Liebeck suffered third-degree burns requiring skin grafts when 190°F coffee spilled in her lap. McDonald's had received 700 previous burn compl...
1987
A man in Los Angeles attached 45 weather balloons to a lawn chair and flew to 16,000 feet
Larry Walters, a truck driver, fulfilled his dream of flight using a lawn chair and helium balloons. He floated into controlled airspace near Long Bea...
1982
Argentina surrendered to Britain, ending the Falklands War after 74 days of conflict
MajorThe brief but intense war resulted in over 900 deaths and the fall of Argentina's military junta. British forces recaptured the remote South Atlantic...
1959
The USSR launched a monkey, a rabbit, and a dog into space aboard Discoverer 3
Actually, the U.S. launched Discoverer 3 this day, but it was a spy satellite program, not animals. However, the Soviets did send various animals to s...
1951
UNIVAC I became the first commercial computer delivered to a business client in the United States
MajorThe U.S. Census Bureau received this massive 16,000-pound machine that could perform about 1,000 calculations per second. It cost $159,000 and require...
1946
Donald Trump was born in Queens, New York
The real estate developer went on to become a television personality, hosting 'The Apprentice' for 14 seasons. He later served as the 45th President o...
1928
Ernesto 'Che' Guevara was born in Rosario, Argentina
The revolutionary Marxist became a major figure in the Cuban Revolution alongside Fidel Castro. His iconic portrait by Alberto Korda became one of the...
1919
John Alcock and Arthur Brown completed the first nonstop transatlantic flight
The British aviators flew a modified WWI bomber from Newfoundland to Ireland in just under 16 hours. They crash-landed in an Irish bog but survived an...
1834
Sandpaper was patented by Isaac Fischer Jr. in Springfield, Vermont
Fischer invented a way to coat paper with sand for smoothing and polishing wood and metal. Before this, people used actual sand, sharkskin, or rough s...
1789
Whiskey distilled from corn was first produced by American clergyman Elijah Craig in Kentucky
Reverend Craig accidentally invented bourbon whiskey when he stored his corn whiskey in charred oak barrels. The charring gave the spirit its distinct...
1777
The Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States
MajorThis date became known as Flag Day in America. The resolution stated the flag would have thirteen stripes alternating red and white, and thirteen whit...
1775
The United States Army was officially founded by the Continental Congress
Congress authorized the first ten companies of riflemen, creating what would become the most powerful military force in history. George Washington was...