May 14

Scott Winters May 14, 2025 2 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1607 – An expedition led by Captain Christopher Newport went ashore at Jamestown, VA. The group had arrived at the location the day before. This became the first permanent English colony in America.

1787 – Delegates began gathering in Philadelphia, PA, for a convention to draw up the U.S. Constitution.

1796 – The first smallpox vaccination was given by Edward Jenner.

1804 – William Clark set off the famous expedition from Camp Dubois. A few days later, in St. Louis, Meriwether Lewis joined the group. The group was known as the “Corps of Discovery.”

1853 – Gail Borden applied for a patent for condensed milk.

1874 – McGill University and Harvard met at Cambridge, MA, for the first college football game to charge admission.

1878 – The name Vaseline was registered by Robert A. Chesebrough.

1879 – Thomas Edison incorporated the Edison Telephone Company of Europe.

1897 – “The Stars and Stripes Forever”, by John Phillip Sousa, was performed for the first time. It was at a ceremony where a statue of George Washington was unveiled.

1897 – Guglielmo Marconi made the first communication by wireless telegraph.

1913 – The Rockefeller Foundation was created by John D. Rockefeller with a gift of $100 million.

1939 – Lina Medina became the youngest confirmed mother in medical history at the age of five.

1942 – The Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) was established by an act of the U.S. Congress.

1960 – The birth control pill was introduced in the United States.

1967 – Mickey Mantle hit the 500th home run of his career, off Baltimore’s Stu Miller.

1972 – In his first game as a Met, Willie Mays hit a game winning home run against his old team, the Giants.

1973 – Skylab One was launched into orbit around Earth as the first U.S. manned space station.

1980 – President Jimmy Carter inaugurated the Department of Health and Human Services.

1985 – Ray Kroc’s first McDonald’s restaurant became the first fast-food business museum. It is located in Des Plaines, IL.

1989 – The final episodes of TV’s “Moonlighting” and “Family Ties” were broadcast.

1996 – Magic Johnson retired from the Los Angeles Lakers for the second and final time.

1998 – The Associated Press marked its 150th anniversary.

1998 – Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer went to jail in the final episode of the TV series “Seinfeld” aired after nine years on NBC. The final episode was watched by 76 million viewers.

1998 – George Michael pleaded no contest in the Beverly Hills, CA Municipal Court to committing a lewd act in a park restroom. He was fined $810, given 80 hours of community service, and ordered to undergo counseling.

1998 – The animated TV show called “Celebrity Deathmatch” premiered on MTV. Clay models of famous celebrities would wresting each other. The show remained on the air for 6 seasons.

1999 – Jess Marlow received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2000 – The six cast members of TV’s “Friends” signed two year contracts that guaranteed each actor $750,000 per episode, up from $125,000.

2010 – Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on the STS-132 mission to deliver the first shuttle-launched Russian ISS component — Rassvet. This was originally slated to be the final launch of Atlantis, before Congress approved STS-135.

2018 – Scientists at the University of California successfully executed a memory transfer in snails.

2021 – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer lifted the mask mandate in all settings for those who were fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

2021 – China successfully landed Zhurong, the country’s first Mars rover.

BIRTHDAYS:

Charlie Gracie – 89 years old (1936) – Singer (“Boogie Woogie Blues”, “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself a Letter”)

George Lucas – 81 years old (1944) – Film producer, screenwriter, director (“Star Wars” movie series)

Francesca Annis – 80 years old (1945) – Actress (“Krull”, “Dune”, “The Debt Collector”, “The Libertine”)

David Byrne – 73 years old (1952) – Lead singer, guitarist (Talking Heads)

Robert Zemeckis – 73 years old (1952) – Film director, producer, screenwriter (“Forrest Gump”, “Back to the Future”, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”, “Castaway”, “Flight”, “Romancing the Stone”)

Tom Cochrane – 72 years old (1953) – Singer (“Life Is a Highway”)

Tim Roth – 64 years old (1961) – Actor (“Resovoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction”)

Ian Astbury – 63 years old (1962) – Lead vocalist (The Cult)

C.C. DeVille – 63 years old (1962) – Guitarist (Poison)

Mike Inez – 59 years old (1966) – Bassist (Alice in Chains)

Fabrice Morvan – 59 years old (1966) – Singer? (Milli Vanilli)

Cate Blanchett – 56 years old (1969) – Actress (“Blue Jasmine”, “The Aviator”, “Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age”, “Carol”, “Notes on a Scandal”, “I’m Not There”, “Cinderella”, “Robin Hood”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, “Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Hobbit” trilogy)

Danny Wood – 56 years old (1969) – Singer (New Kids on the Block)

Sofia Coppola – 54 years old (1971) – Director (“Lost in Translation”, “The Virgin Diaries”, “Somewhere”, “The Bling Ring”, “Marie Antoinette”)

Shanice – 52 years old (1973) – Singer (“I Love Your Smile”, “Silent Prayer”)

Amber Tamblyn – 42 years old (1983) – Actress (TV’s “General Hospital”, “The Unusuals”, “Joan of Arcadia”, “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”, “The
Grudge 2”)

Mark Zuckerberg – 41 years old (1984) – Founder of Facebook

Miranda Cosgrove – 32 years old (1993) – Actress (TV’s “iCarly”, “Drake and Josh”, movie “School of Rock”)

TODAY IS:

National Dance Like a Chicken Day: Gather your friends and family, put on that funky music, and do the classic, goofy, ever-popular Chicken Dance to get moving and, undoubtedly, laughing.
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day: Bake up a storm with buttermilk biscuits! Indulge in their fluffiness and savor their buttery flavor. From breakfast to dinner, these delicious treats are perfect any time of the day. Get ready for a biscuit feast!
International Chihuahua Appreciation Day: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day is a worldwide celebration that honors the smallest breed of dog! This day shines a light on these tiny but mighty companions, emphasizing their special qualities and encouraging people to appreciate and care for them. The day was established in 2020 by Nadia Alterio, a devoted...
National Receptionists Day: Give your receptionist a paid day off, or take some time to say thank you or send a card to the receptionists that help handle your affairs every day.
Online Romance Day: Nowadays, thousands of newly formed relationships start in the virtual world. Almost anyone has at least once explored the world of online dating by creating a profile on a popular dating app. As you scroll through potential matches, you find someone who shares your interests. You exchange messages, finding comfort...
Stars and Stripes Forever Day: The Stars and Stripes Forever Day celebrates the iconic American march composed by John Philip Sousa. Sousa's composition is renowned for its uplifting melody and patriotic spirit, making it a staple at many American events. This day is significant as it honors the first public performance of this rousing piece...
National Third Shift Workers Day: Emergency workers, 24 hour companies, cargo loaders and more have to work difficult hours, so honor these workers on Third Shift Worker’s Day.
World Facilities Management Day: Give some thanks to the unrecognized heroes who keep offices, hotels, resorts and more clean, comfortable and running smoothly.
Donate A Day’s Wages To Charity Day: It can be tough to come up with money to donate, no matter how much you want to. Find a balance and try setting aside just a day’s wages to donate to charity.
World Orienteering Day: World Orienteering Day invites people to explore the outdoors with a map and compass. Participants navigate through forests, parks, or urban areas, aiming to find specific checkpoints. This activity combines physical movement with mental challenges, making it both fun and engaging. It's suitable for individuals of all ages and fitness...
Bond With Your Dog Day: Imagine a day when the world slows down, just enough for you and your dog to share a moment. Bond With Your Dog Day invites you to do just that. It's a special time set aside to strengthen the connection between you and your furry companion. This day isn't just...
National Underground America Day: Imagine a day that celebrates life beneath our feet. National Underground America Day honors the 6,000 North Americans who reside not just on the Earth but within it. These unique homes, nestled underground, offer a harmonious blend of innovation and nature. Living underground provides many benefits. The Earth acts as a...
National Decency Day: When the norm is decency, other virtues can thrive: integrity, honesty, compassion, kindness, and trust. –Raja Krishnamoorthi If everyone acts like a decent human being, this can lead to progress not only as individuals but, more importantly, as a society! National Decency Day is here to promote such behavior as kindness...
National Root Canal Appreciation Day: Once upon a time, a tooth infection could cause lasting harm and even death. Now, dentists can take care of such issues with a simple root canal. Thank goodness!
National Travel Insurance Claims Day: National Travel Insurance Claims Day celebrates the crucial role of travel insurance in ensuring safe and worry-free journeys. This special day highlights the importance of having a safety net while traveling. It recognizes the dedicated professionals who handle travel insurance claims, providing support and assistance when unforeseen events occur. From...
Bike to Work Week: Bike to Work Week is a special time celebrated each year across the United States. This event encourages people to ride their bikes to work or anywhere else they need to go as part of a larger movement to promote cycling and its benefits. How to Celebrate Bike to Work Week Embracing...
Be Nice to Nettles Week: Be Nice to Nettles Week is a vibrant annual event that shines a spotlight on the humble nettle plant. Celebrated in mid-May, this period encourages us to appreciate the ecological and health benefits of nettles. How to Celebrate Be Nice to Nettles Week Here are five quirky and playful ways to dive...
Learning at Work Week: Learning at Work Week is a special time dedicated to boosting learning culture within the workplace. Celebrated annually, this initiative encourages all types of organizations to engage in activities that foster learning among their teams. The goal is to make learning an integral part of working life, benefiting individual growth and...
Christian Aid Week: Christian Aid Week is an important time that provides urgent humanitarian relief to the less fortunate and urges long-term programs to help. It calls out the plight of the suffering, giving immediate aid. But it does more; it stands up for the rights of - and demands justice for -...
Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...
National Hospital Week: Whether performing a small elective procedure or treating a life-threatening illness, hospitals are critical places that make a huge difference in the health of individuals, families and communities across the nation. National Hospital Week is here to celebrate and show appreciation for all of the different people who are integral...
National Public Gardens Week: National Public Gardens Week shines a spotlight on the incredible beauty and significance of public gardens. Held each year in early May, it's a week-long celebration designed to highlight the vital role these gardens play in our communities. From fragrant flower displays to serene landscapes, they offer more than just...
M.E. Awareness Week: M.E. Awareness Week, celebrated annually, highlights the struggles of people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). The week encourages empathy for those affected and serves as a time for people to learn more about this condition. The campaign is organized by various charities, patient groups, and healthcare professionals working together to increase...
National Salvation Army Week: Supporting those in need, providing hope, and creating positive change—efforts that embody the essence of humanitarian assistance.
I Love My State Parks Week: The United States defines up to 10,000 different areas as state parks. State parks protect more than 14 million acres of landscape, ranging from coastal beaches to forests, sandy deserts to swampland. In addition, state parks provide local residents with opportunities for recreation, access to clean and safe green spaces...