On This Day in History – September 14

September 14 stands out as a date that has seen pivotal moments in literature, music, science, and geopolitics. From legendary national anthems to scientific awards and political transitions, this day captures humanity’s creativity, conflict, and resilience.

Major Events

• 1814 – “The Star-Spangled Banner” Written Francis Scott Key pens the poem after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. It later becomes the U.S. national anthem.
• 1901 – President William McKinley Dies After being shot eight days earlier, U.S. President McKinley dies, and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt assumes the presidency.
• 1960 – OPEC Formally Established Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela sign an agreement in Baghdad to create the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
• 1982 – Grace Kelly Dies in Car Accident The Princess of Monaco and former Hollywood actress dies after suffering a stroke while driving in the French Riviera.
• 1994 – First Ever Web Domain Auction Held Over 3,000 domain names are auctioned off, including some of the earliest .com properties, marking a turning point in internet commercialization.
• 2003 – Estonia Joins the EU in National Referendum Voters approve accession to the European Union, aligning the Baltic country with Western Europe after decades of Soviet control.
• 2015 – Migrant Crisis Peaks in Europe Austria and Germany open their borders to thousands of Syrian and Afghan refugees, prompting a major humanitarian and political debate across the EU.

Famous Birthdays

• Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) – German geographer, explorer, and naturalist whose work influenced Darwin.
• Amy Winehouse (1983–2011) – British singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and the Grammy-winning album Back to Black.
• Andrew Lincoln (1973) – English actor best known for playing Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead.
• Nas (1973) – Influential American rapper and lyricist known for his debut album Illmatic.
• Clayton Moore (1914–1999) – American actor who famously portrayed The Lone Ranger on TV.
• Walter Koenig (1936) – American actor, known for his role as Chekov in Star Trek.
• Sam Neill (1947) – New Zealand actor best known for roles in Jurassic Park and The Piano.

Notable Deaths

• William McKinley (1901) – 25th President of the United States, assassinated by anarchist Leon Czolgosz, born in 1843.
• Dante Alighieri (1321) – Italian poet and philosopher, author of The Divine Comedy, born in 1265.
• Grace Kelly (1982) – Hollywood star turned Princess of Monaco, born in 1929.
• Isamu Noguchi (1988) – Japanese-American sculptor and landscape architect, born in 1904.
• Patrick Swayze (2009) – American actor and dancer, star of Dirty Dancing and Ghost, born in 1952.

Holidays

• Holy Cross Day (Christianity) Celebrates the cross used in Jesus’ crucifixion, observed particularly in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches.
• Engineer’s Day (India) Honors the birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, a renowned engineer and statesman.
• Mobilization Day (Ukraine) Recognizes the day of military mobilization during times of national emergency.

Fun Facts

• The Star-Spangled Banner was not adopted as the U.S. national anthem until 1931, over a century after it was written.
• Amy Winehouse’s music has seen continued popularity and critical acclaim posthumously.
• Alexander von Humboldt’s birthday is celebrated in many Latin American countries due to his contributions to science and exploration.
• Patrick Swayze’s final film appearance was in the TV series The Beast.