On This Day in History – June 14

by hpmom June 14, 2025

June 14, 2025

1777 – The Continental Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States.
1789 – Mutineers from the Bounty land on Pitcairn Island and burn the ship to avoid detection.
1900 – Hawaii becomes a U.S. territory after being annexed in 1898.
1940 – German forces enter Paris during World War II, marking a significant turning point in the war.
1951 – UNIVAC I, the first commercial computer, is dedicated in Philadelphia.
1982 – The Falklands War ends as Argentine forces surrender to British troops after 10 weeks of fighting.
2017 – A gunman opens fire on U.S. Congressmen practicing for a baseball game in Alexandria, Virginia, injuring several, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896), American author and abolitionist, best known for Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Karl Landsteiner (1868–1943), Austrian immunologist who discovered blood groups and won the Nobel Prize.
Donald Trump (born 1946), 45th President of the United States and businessman.
Boy George (born 1961), British pop singer and lead vocalist of Culture Club.
Yasmine Bleeth (born 1968), American actress known for her role in Baywatch.
Lucy Hale (born 1989), American actress and singer known for Pretty Little Liars.

Benedict Arnold (1741–1801), American Revolutionary War general who defected to the British side.
Jerzy Popiełuszko (1947–1984), Polish priest and martyr associated with the Solidarity movement.
Salvador Novo (1904–1974), Mexican writer, poet, and historian.
Alan Cranston (1914–2000), American politician and four-term U.S. senator from California.

Flag Day (United States) – Celebrates the adoption of the U.S. flag on this date in 1777.
World Blood Donor Day – Promotes voluntary blood donation and honors the work of Karl Landsteiner, born on this day.
Liberation Day (Falkland Islands) – Marks the end of the Falklands War in 1982.

The first official U.S. flag had 13 stars arranged in a circle to represent unity among the original colonies.
World Blood Donor Day is observed on Karl Landsteiner’s birthday, honoring his discovery of blood groups.
Harriet Beecher Stowe once met Abraham Lincoln, who reportedly greeted her by saying, “So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.”
UNIVAC I, activated on this day in 1951, could perform about 1,000 calculations per second — groundbreaking at the time.
The Falklands War, fought 8,000 miles from the U.K., ended in British victory and remains a significant moment in British military history.