February 14 in history — What Happened Today in History
Welcome to February 14 in history! Here you can discover what happened on February 14, including the major events, the famous people born on February 14 and the notable deaths on February 14, with the newest story starting in 2020.
On this page, February 14 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about February 14 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on February 14 in History 40
- 2020
At least 22 people are killed in an attack on a village in Northwest Region, Cameroon.
- 2019
Pulwama attack takes place in Lethpora in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, India in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and a suicide bomber were killed and 35 were injured.
- 2018
Jacob Zuma resigns as President of South Africa.
- 2018
A shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida is one of the deadliest school massacres with 17 fatalities and 17 injuries.
- 2011
As a part of Arab Spring, the Bahraini uprising begins with a 'Day of Rage'.
- 2008
Northern Illinois University shooting: A gunman opens fire in a lecture hall of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb County, Illinois, resulting in six fatalities (including the gunman) and 21 injuries.
- 2005
In Beirut, 23 people, including former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, are killed when the equivalent of around 1,000 kg of TNT is detonated while Hariri's motorcade drives through the city.
- 2005
Seven people are killed and 151 wounded in a series of bombings by suspected al-Qaeda-linked militants that hit Makati, Davao City, and General Santos, all in the Philippines.
- 2005
YouTube is launched by a group of college students, eventually becoming the largest video sharing website in the world and a main source for viral videos.
- 2004
In a suburb of Moscow, Russia, the roof of the Transvaal water park collapses, killing more than 28 people, and wounding 193 others.
- 2003
Iraq disarmament crisis: UNMOVIC Executive Chairman Hans Blix reports to the United Nations Security Council that disarmament inspectors have found no weapons of mass destruction in Ba'athist Iraq.
- 2000
The spacecraft NEAR Shoemaker enters orbit around asteroid 433 Eros, the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid.
All entries for February 14（+28）
- 1998
An oil tanker train collides with a freight train in Yaoundé, Cameroon, spilling fuel oil. One person scavenging the oil created a massive explosion which killed 120.
- 1990
Ninety-two people are killed when Indian Airlines Flight 605 crashes in Bangalore, India.
- 1990
The Voyager 1 spacecraft takes the photograph of planet Earth that later becomes famous as Pale Blue Dot.
- 1989
Union Carbide agrees to pay $470 million to the Indian government for damages it caused in the 1984 Bhopal disaster.
- 1989
Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issues a fatwa encouraging Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses.
- 1983
United American Bank of Knoxville, Tennessee collapses. Its president, Jake Butcher, is later convicted of fraud.
- 1979
In Kabul, Setami Milli militants kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs who is later killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police.
- 1961
Discovery of the chemical elements: Element 103, Lawrencium, is first synthesized at the University of California.
- 1954
First Indochina War - small French garrison at Đắk Đoa is overrun by the Viet Minh after a week's siege.
- 1949
The Knesset (parliament of Israel) convenes for the first time.
- 1949
The Asbestos Strike begins in Canada. The strike marks the beginning of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec.
- 1947
The act abolishing all noble ranks and related styles comes into force in Hungary.
- 1946
The Bank of England is nationalized.
- 1945
World War II: On the first day of the bombing of Dresden, the British Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces begin fire-bombing Dresden.
- 1945
World War II: Navigational error leads to the mistaken bombing of Prague, Czechoslovakia by a United States Army Air Forces squadron of B-17s assisting in the Soviet Red Army's Vistula–Oder Offensive.
- 1945
World War II: Mostar is liberated by Yugoslav partisans
- 1945
President Franklin D. Roosevelt meets King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia aboard the USS Quincy, officially beginning U.S.-Saudi diplomatic relations.
- 1944
World War II: In the action of 14 February 1944, a Royal Navy submarine sinks a German-controlled Italian Regia Marina submarine in the Strait of Malacca.
- 1943
World War II: Rostov-on-Don, Russia is liberated.
- 1943
World War II: Tunisia Campaign: General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim's Fifth Panzer Army launches a counter-attack against Allied positions in Tunisia.
- 1942
World War II: Battle of Pasir Panjang contributes to the fall of Singapore.
- 1939
World War II: German battleship Bismarck is launched.
- 1929
Saint Valentine's Day Massacre: Seven people, six of them gangster rivals of Al Capone's gang, are murdered in Chicago.
- 1924
The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company changes its name to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).
- 1920
The League of Women Voters is founded in Chicago.
- 1919
The Polish–Soviet War begins.
- 1918
Soviet Russia adopts the Gregorian calendar.
- 1912
Arizona is admitted as the 48th and the last contiguous U.S. state.
Famous Birthdays on February 14 in History 25
- 2002
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, American football player
- 2000
Gabriel Moreno, Venezuelan baseball player
- 1999
Tyler Adams, American soccer player
- 1997
Jaehyun, South Korean singer and actor
- 1997
Breel Embolo, Swiss footballer
- 1996
Nikolaj Ehlers, Danish ice hockey player
- 1996
Poasa Faamausili, New Zealand rugby league player
- 1996
Lucas Hernandez, French footballer
- 1993
Jadeveon Clowney, American football player
- 1993
Alberto Rosende, American actor and singer
- 1992
Christian Eriksen, Danish footballer
- 1992
Freddie Highmore, English actor
All entries for February 14（+13）
- 1992
Petr Mrázek, Czech ice hockey player
- 1991
Karol G, Colombian singer and songwriter
- 1991
Daniela Mona Lambin, Estonian footballer
- 1990
Chris Babb, American basketball player
- 1990
Brett Dier, Canadian actor
- 1990
Bogdan Kiselevich, Russian ice hockey player
- 1990
Sefa Yılmaz, German-Turkish footballer
- 1989
Néstor Calderón, Mexican footballer
- 1989
Adam Matuszczyk, Polish footballer
- 1989
Emma Miskew, Canadian curler
- 1989
Byron Mullens, American basketball player
- 1989
Derek Norris, American baseball player
- 1989
Brandon Sutter, Canadian ice hockey player
Notable Deaths on February 14 in History 25
- 2026
Tom Noonan, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1951)
- 2021
Carlos Menem, Argentine former president, lawyer, and statesman (born 1930)
- 2021
William Meninger, American Trappist monk and a principal developer of Centering Prayer (born 1932)
- 2019
Andrea Levy, English author (born 1956)
- 2018
Ruud Lubbers, Dutch politician and diplomat, Prime Minister and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (born 1939)
- 2018
Morgan Tsvangirai, 2nd Prime Minister of Zimbabwe (born 1952)
- 2016
Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury, English lieutenant, engineer, and politician (born 1928)
- 2016
Steven Stucky, American composer and academic (born 1949)
- 2015
Louis Jourdan, French-American actor and singer (born 1921)
- 2015
Philip Levine, American poet and academic (born 1928)
- 2015
Franjo Mihalić, Croatian-Serbian runner and coach (born 1920)
- 2014
Tom Finney, English footballer (born 1922)
All entries for February 14（+13）
- 2014
Chris Pearson, Canadian lawyer and politician, 1st Premier of Yukon (born 1931)
- 2014
Mike Stepovich, American lawyer and politician, Governor of Alaska Territory (born 1919)
- 2013
Glenn Boyer, American historian and author (born 1924)
- 2013
Ronald Dworkin, American philosopher and scholar (born 1931)
- 2012
Mike Bernardo, South African boxer and martial artist (born 1969)
- 2012
Tonmi Lillman, Finnish drummer and producer (born 1973)
- 2012
Dory Previn, American singer-songwriter (born 1925)
- 2012
Péter Rusorán, Hungarian swimmer, water polo player, and coach (born 1940)
- 2011
George Shearing, English-American pianist and composer (born 1919)
- 2010
Doug Fieger, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1952)
- 2010
Dick Francis, Welsh jockey and author (born 1920)
- 2010
Linnart Mäll, Estonian historian, orientalist, and translator (born 1938)
- 2009
Bernard Ashley, English engineer and businessman, co-founded Laura Ashley plc (born 1926)
That is the story of February 14 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on February 14 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on February 14 in history?
The biggest event on February 14 in history is: 2020 — At least 22 people are killed in an attack on a village in Northwest Region, Cameroon.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on February 14?
25 famous people were born on February 14 in history, the best known being 2002 — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, American football player.
Who died on February 14?
25 notable people died on February 14 in history, including 2026 — Tom Noonan, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1951).
Why should I read about February 14 in history?
Exploring February 14 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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