25 fun facts for October, 14

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
October 14 features numerous historic milestones, such as the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the initiation of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, and the birth of future U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1890. It is also a day for celebration, with National Dessert Day in the U.S. and National Arbor Day in South Africa.
25 Fun facts
  1. On October 14, 1066, the Battle of Hastings was fought between the Norman-French army of William the Conqueror and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson. The battle marked the beginning of the Norman conquest of England.
  2. In 1322, on this day, Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated King Edward II of England at the Battle of Old Byland, forcing Edward to accept Scotland's independence.
  3. On October 14, 1582, the Gregorian calendar was implemented in Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. This adoption led to skipping ten days after October 4, 1582, with October 15 being the following day to make adjustments to the Julian calendar.
  4. On this day in 1644, William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, was born in London, England. Pennsylvania later became one of the 13 original American colonies.
  5. October 14, 1656, marks the date when the first female playwright in the United States, Aphra Behn, was baptized. She would go on to become a prolific figure in English literature.
  6. On this day in 1884, U.S. inventor George Eastman received a patent for his invention of photographic paper film, which significantly helped spur the mass production of affordable cameras in the United States.
  7. Eamon De Valera, who would become Prime Minister of Ireland and play a key role in Ireland's struggle for independence, was born on October 14, 1882.
  8. On October 14, 1890, future U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was born. He went on to serve two terms as the 34th President and was a celebrated World War II general.
  9. October 14, 1893, marks the birth of Lillian Gish, an American stage and film actress, director, and writer. She is considered to be one of the pioneers in the early days of cinema.
  10. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 began on October 14 when a U.S. U-2 reconnaissance aircraft captured photographic evidence of Soviet medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba.
  11. The first live television broadcast of a U.S. presidential address took place on October 14, 1947, when President Harry Truman addressed the nation- to discuss his plan to combat rising food prices.
  12. On October 14, 1955, the United Nations Charter, the founding document of the world organization, came into effect following ratification by the required number of countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
  13. On this day in 1960, future U.S. President John F. Kennedy proposed the idea of the Peace Corps during a late-night speech at the University of Michigan.
  14. The iconic St. Louis Gateway Arch was completed on October 14, 1965. The Arch, standing at 630 feet, remains the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere.
  15. On October 14, 1968, Dr. Zakir Hussain became the first Muslim President of India, serving until his death in 1969.
  16. On this day in 1978, U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill authorizing the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin, the first U.S. coin to honor a woman.
  17. U.S. singer and songwriter Usher was born on October 14, 1978. He went on to become one of the best-selling artists in history, with several Grammy Awards under his belt.
  18. On October 14, 1981, the Cabbage Patch Kids doll line was trademarked, later going on to become one of the most popular toys of the 1980s, as millions were sold worldwide.
  19. October 14, 1990, marked the reunification of East and West Germany following 45 years of division.
  20. The MLB World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics was interrupted on October 14, 1989, due to the Loma Prieta earthquake. As a result, game three was postponed for ten days.
  21. On October 14, 1991, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her nonviolent struggle for democracy in Myanmar.
  22. October 14 is celebrated as National Dessert Day in the United States, recognizing the wide variety of delicious treats and desserts available to satisfy every sweet tooth.
  23. In South Africa, October 14 is National Arbor Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of trees and promoting conservation and sustainable use of forests.
  24. Founded on October 14, 1943, the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency that works with member countries to ensure safe and efficient global air transportation.
  25. On October 14, 2012, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner completed the highest and fastest-ever skydive from a height of 128,097 feet (about 24 miles) above Earth, breaking sound barriers in the process.

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