On this day in history, May 14 carries the weight of Israel’s declaration of independence, the launch of Skylab, and the birth of a nation-changing abolitionist movement.
What happened on May 14 in history includes Lewis and Clark’s departure on their Corps of Discovery expedition in 1804, the founding of the state of Israel in 1948, and Facebook’s IPO in 2012.
Today in history, May 14 connects to the first smallpox vaccination administered by Edward Jenner in 1796 and Gabriel Fahrenheit’s birth in 1686. Famous birthdays on May 14 include Mark Zuckerberg, Cate Blanchett, George Lucas, and Bobby Darin.
National days on May 14 include National Dance Like a Chicken Day in the U.S. This day in history, May 14 fun facts reveal a date of medical revolutions, space stations, and the Declaration of Independence.
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May 14 on the Calendar
May 14 is the 134th day of the year in standard years and the 135th day in leap years. There are 231 days remaining. The zodiac sign is Taurus (April 20 – May 20).
In the Northern Hemisphere, May 14 falls in mid-spring, with average high temperatures in Washington, D.C. reaching approximately 72°F (22°C) and sunset occurring at approximately 8:05 PM Eastern Time.
Here’s your complete May 14 summary in one table:
| CATEGORY | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| DAY OF THE YEAR | 134th day |
| Days Remaining | 231 days |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus ♉ |
| Season (N. Hemisphere) | Spring |
| Birthstone | Emerald 💚 |
| USA — 1804 | The Lewis & Clark Expedition set out from St. Louis, heading up the Missouri River on their historic journey to the Pacific Coast — one of the greatest exploration missions in American history |
| USA — 1897 | John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever was first performed publicly at Willow Grove Park — Congress would later officially designate it as the National March of the United States in 1987 |
| USA — 1942 | The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps was established, allowing American women to serve in non-combat military roles for the first time in U.S. history |
| USA — 1973 | The U.S. launched Skylab, its first space station, atop a modified Saturn V rocket — it would go on to host three crews of astronauts before re-entering the atmosphere in 1979 |
| USA — 1973 | The U.S. Supreme Court approved equal rights for women in the military — a landmark ruling in the advancement of gender equality in American armed forces |
| USA — 1998 | The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Murphy v. NCAA that the federal government could not prevent states from legalizing sports gambling — the decision became the foundation of today’s multibillion-dollar legal sports betting industry |
| USA — 1999 | President Bill Clinton personally called Chinese President Jiang Zemin to apologize for the accidental NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, six days earlier |
| USA — 2018 | The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law banning sports gambling in most states — opening the door for states to legalize betting |
| GLOBAL — 1264 | Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of Corpus Christi — one of the most significant additions to the Catholic liturgical calendar in the medieval period |
| GLOBAL — 1607 | English settlers arrived at Jamestown, Virginia — establishing the first permanent English settlement in the Americas |
| GLOBAL — 1796 | English physician Edward Jenner administered the world’s first smallpox vaccination to 8-year-old James Phipps — laying the foundation for the entire science of immunology |
| GLOBAL — 1889 | The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) was launched in London — becoming the world’s first and largest children’s charity of its kind |
| GLOBAL — 1948 | David Ben-Gurion and the Jewish People’s Council proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel — just hours before the British mandate in Palestine expired, triggering the first Arab-Israeli War |
| GLOBAL — 1955 | The Warsaw Pact was signed — a mutual defence treaty between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern Bloc nations, forming the communist counterpart to NATO |
| GLOBAL — 1963 | Kuwait joined the United Nations as the 111th member state |
| GLOBAL — 2015 | B.B. King, one of the most influential blues guitarists in history and a principal figure in the development of modern blues, died at age 89 |
| GLOBAL — 2022 | Israel marked its 74th Independence Day — celebrated with fireworks, air shows, and public events across the country |
| National Days (USA) | National Buttermilk Biscuit Day 🥐 |
| Dance Like a Chicken Day 🐔 | |
| Stars and Stripes Forever Day 🇺🇸 | |
| National Underground America Day 🌎 | |
| National Good Hair Day 💇 | |
| National Golf Day ⛳ | |
| International Chihuahua Appreciation Day 🐕 | |
| International Observances | International Dylan Thomas Day 📖 (Welsh poet’s birthday) |
| Ascension Day ✝️ (Christian observance — 40 days after Easter; date varies by year) | |
| World Facilities Management Day 🏢 | |
| Donate A Day’s Wages To Charity Day 💛 | |
| Israel Independence Day 🇮🇱 (date varies by Hebrew calendar) | |
| Famous Birthdays | George Lucas (1944) — American filmmaker, creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, founder of Lucasfilm |
| Cate Blanchett (1969) — Australian actress, two-time Academy Award winner | |
| Bobby Darin (1936) — American singer and actor, known for Mack the Knife and Beyond the Sea | |
| Mark Zuckerberg (1984) — American tech entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Meta (Facebook) | |
| Tim Roth (1961) — British actor, known for Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs | |
| Amber Heard (1986) — American actress | |
| Notable Deaths | B.B. King (2015) — Legendary American blues guitarist and singer, died aged 89 |
| Frank Sinatra (1998) — Iconic American singer and actor, known as Ol’ Blue Eyes, died aged 82 | |
| Henry Rider Haggard (1925) — British author of King Solomon’s Mines and She |
Major Historical Events on May 14
May 14 contains some of the most consequential events in modern political and scientific history.
The following 11 events span the 1600s through the 2010s.
1607 — The English settlers of the Virginia Company begin construction of the James Fort at Jamestown, Virginia, one day after their May 13 arrival on the peninsula. The triangular palisade fort, confirmed by archaeological excavation beginning in 1994, measured approximately 100 by 140 feet and housed the colony’s first permanent structures.
1686 — Gabriel Fahrenheit is born in Danzig (present-day Gdańsk, Poland). He developed the Fahrenheit temperature scale in 1724, defining the freezing point of water at 32°F and body temperature at 96°F (later revised to 98.6°F). His mercury thermometer design, published in Philosophical Transactions in 1724, became the standard instrument for temperature measurement for over a century.
1796 — English physician Edward Jenner administers the first smallpox vaccination to James Phipps, an 8-year-old boy, using cowpox material in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England. Jenner’s method proved that deliberate inoculation with cowpox could prevent smallpox. The World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1980 — the only human infectious disease ever eradicated.
1804 — Lewis and Clark depart Camp Dubois, Illinois, beginning the Corps of Discovery Expedition commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson. The expedition covered approximately 8,000 miles over 28 months, mapping the Louisiana Purchase territory and reaching the Pacific coast in November 1805.
1878 — The first telephone exchange in the South opens in Memphis, Tennessee, operated by the Mississippi Valley Telephone Company. Memphis was the 11th city in the United States to have a telephone exchange, with an initial subscriber list of 40 names.
1948 — David Ben-Gurion proclaims the establishment of the State of Israel at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 8 hours before the British Mandate over Palestine expired at midnight. The United States recognized Israel 11 minutes after the proclamation under President Harry S. Truman. Five Arab states — Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon — invaded within hours.
1955 — The Warsaw Pact is signed by the Soviet Union, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania, creating a mutual defense treaty among Eastern Bloc nations. The pact was a direct response to West Germany’s admission to NATO earlier that month. It remained in force until July 1991.
1973 — The United States launches Skylab, its first space station, aboard a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Skylab hosted three astronaut crews between 1973 and 1974 and conducted 2,000 hours of scientific experiments before being deorbited and crashing into Western Australia in 1979.
1998 — The final episode of Seinfeld, titled “The Finale,” airs on NBC, drawing an audience of 76.3 million viewers — the fourth-highest-rated television finale in U.S. history, behind M*A*S*H (1983), Cheers (1993), and The Fugitive (1967). The show ran for 9 seasons and 180 episodes from 1989 to 1998.
2003 — The Riyadh compound bombings in Saudi Arabia kill 35 people, including 9 attackers, when suicide bombers target three residential compounds housing Western nationals. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. The attacks prompted a significant expansion of Saudi internal security operations against militant networks.
2012 — Facebook completes its initial public offering on the NASDAQ at a share price of $38, valuing the company at approximately $104 billion — the largest valuation for a newly public U.S. company at that time. The IPO raised $16 billion. Technical glitches at NASDAQ delayed the opening trade by 30 minutes.
What’s Happening on May 14, 2026?
Israel’s Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut): May 14, 2026, marks the 78th anniversary of Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948. Official state ceremonies are held at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, with the Israeli Defense Forces conducting air displays and municipalities hosting public concerts and firework events.
Smallpox vaccination anniversary: May 14, 2026, marks the 230th anniversary of Edward Jenner’s first vaccination. The WHO and global health organizations use the date to highlight the legacy of vaccination in eradicating smallpox and the ongoing relevance of vaccine programs for polio, measles, and other preventable diseases.
Facebook IPO anniversary: Fourteen years after its May 14, 2012 IPO at $38 per share, Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) trades at a valuation that has grown by several thousand percent, tracking ongoing developments in AI, advertising technology, and regulatory scrutiny from the European Union and U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
National Dance Like a Chicken Day (U.S.): An informal food and entertainment observance generating social media engagement, primarily among family-oriented content platforms.
Famous Birthdays on May 14
| Name | Born–Died | Nationality | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Zuckerberg | born 1984 | American | Co-founded Facebook in 2004 at Harvard University, now CEO of Meta Platforms. As of 2025, Meta has approximately 3.3 billion daily active users across its family of apps. |
| Cate Blanchett | born 1969 | Australian | Two-time Academy Award winner (The Aviator, 2005; Blue Jasmine, 2014) and former Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company. Widely regarded as one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. |
| George Lucas | born 1944 | American | Director and creator of the Star Wars franchise (1977–present) and the Indiana Jones franchise (1981–present). He sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 for $4.05 billion. |
| Bobby Darin | 1936–1973 | American | Singer who recorded “Mack the Knife” (1959), which spent 9 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts. He won two Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. |
| Gabriel Fahrenheit | 1686–1736 | Polish-German | Physicist and instrument maker who invented the mercury thermometer (1714) and developed the Fahrenheit temperature scale (1724). His scale is still used as the primary temperature system in the United States. |
| Thomas Gainsborough | 1727–1788 | British | Portrait and landscape painter who, alongside Joshua Reynolds, dominated British portraiture in the 18th century. His works The Blue Boy (c. 1770) and Mr and Mrs Andrews (c. 1750) are held at the Huntington Library and National Gallery respectively. |
| Tim Roth | born 1961 | British | Actor whose collaborations with Quentin Tarantino in Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994) brought him international recognition. He received an Academy Award nomination for Rob Roy (1995). |
| Francesca Annis | born 1945 | British | Stage and screen actress best known for her portrayal of Lady Macbeth in Roman Polanski’s Macbeth (1971) and her long-running role in the TV series Reckless (1997). |
Notable Deaths on May 14
| Name | Born–Died | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Henry IV of France | 1553–1610 | King of France and Navarre who issued the Edict of Nantes (1598), granting religious freedoms to French Protestants (Huguenots) and ending the French Wars of Religion. He was assassinated by François Ravaillac on May 14, 1610, stabbed in his royal carriage in Paris. |
| Augustus Pugin | 1812–1852 | Architect and designer who co-designed the interior of the Palace of Westminster including the Houses of Parliament in London following the 1834 fire. He pioneered the Gothic Revival architectural movement in Britain. |
| Sidney Bechet | 1897–1959 | Jazz saxophonist and clarinetist regarded as one of the first jazz musicians to achieve international recognition. He spent much of his career in France and was awarded the Légion d’honneur. He died on his 62nd birthday on May 14, 1959. |
| Patrice Lumumba | 1925–1961 | [Lumumba was executed January 17, 1961 — not May 14.] |
| L. Frank Baum | 1856–1919 | Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), the first in a 14-book Oz series. He died May 6, 1919 in Hollywood, California. |
Confirmed May 14 deaths:
| Name | Born–Died | Nationality | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry IV of France | 1553–1610 | French | Assassinated on May 14, 1610. As the first Bourbon king of France, his reign brought economic stability and ended three decades of religious civil war. His murder by Catholic fanatic François Ravaillac plunged France into a regency crisis. |
| Sidney Bechet | 1897–1959 | American | Jazz pioneer who died on his birthday, May 14, 1959, in Garches, France. His soprano saxophone playing influenced both Louis Armstrong and John Coltrane. |
| Emma Goldman | 1869–1940 | Russian-American | Anarchist political activist and writer who died May 14, 1940, in Toronto, Canada. She was deported from the United States in 1919 for her opposition to military conscription and spent her later life in Europe and Canada advocating for labor rights and women’s emancipation. |
Holidays on May 14
May 14, 2026, is a Thursday that serves as a major public holiday in dozens of countries due to Ascension Day.
It also features significant cultural celebrations and unique informal observances.
Major International and National Observances
| Holiday / Observance | Scope | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ascension Day | International (Public Holiday) | Commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. It is a major public holiday in over 40 countries. |
| Father’s Day (Vatertag) | Germany | Celebrated on Ascension Day in Germany, often marked by men’s outings and traditional gatherings. |
| Jerusalem Day (Eve) | Israel / Jewish | Known as Yom Yerushalayim, the celebration begins at sundown on May 14 to mark the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. |
| Día del Ingeniero | Chile | “Engineer’s Day,” a national day to recognize the contributions of engineers to Chilean society. |
Countries with Ascension Day Public Holidays
On May 14, 2026, banks, government offices, and many businesses will be closed in these countries (partial list):
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Europe | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland. |
| Americas | Aruba, Colombia, Curaçao, Haiti. |
| Africa | Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo. |
| Oceania | Indonesia (Kenaikan Isa Almasih), Vanuatu. |
Fun and Cultural Observances
| Holiday / Observance | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| National Buttermilk Biscuit Day | Food | A day to celebrate and enjoy the flaky, golden-brown staple of Southern American cuisine. |
| Dance Like a Chicken Day | Cultural | A whimsical day dedicated to performing the famous “Chicken Dance” at parties and events. |
| National Decency Day | Awareness | Encourages basic civility, respect, and decency in everyday interactions. |
| Underground America Day | Architecture | Recognizes the benefits and history of earth-sheltered and underground living spaces. |
| Dylan Thomas Day | Literature | International celebration of the life and work of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. |
| Chihuahua Appreciation Day | Animals | A day for fans of the world’s smallest dog breed to share their love and awareness. |
Religious Observances
| Observance | Tradition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feast of St. Matthias | Christian (Catholic/Anglican) | Honors the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. |
| Feast of St. Boniface of Tarsus | Christian (Orthodox) | The fourth and final of the “Ice Saints” (Eisheilige) in Central European folklore. |
May 14, 2026, is a significant date for global travel and business, as much of Western Europe and parts of Africa and the Americas observe a public holiday. In Germany, it pulls double duty as a popular day for celebrating fathers.
Fun & Weird Facts About May 14
Edward Jenner never patented his smallpox vaccine. Despite inventing one of the most consequential medical interventions in human history on May 14, 1796, Jenner refused to commercialize his discovery. The British Parliament awarded him £10,000 in 1802 and a further £20,000 in 1807 in lieu of royalties. He spent the remainder of his life providing free vaccinations from his home in Berkeley.
The United States recognized Israel before the ink was dry. President Truman’s recognition came 11 minutes after Ben-Gurion’s proclamation — against the advice of Secretary of State George Marshall, who warned it would damage U.S. standing in the Arab world and threatened to vote against Truman in the next election if the recognition proceeded. Truman proceeded anyway.
Skylab was damaged during launch and nearly failed on day one. During the May 14, 1973 launch, a meteorite and thermal shield were torn away by aerodynamic forces, also ripping off one of the two solar panel arrays. Internal temperatures reached 126°F (52°C). The first crew, which arrived 11 days later, spent their first days in space conducting emergency repairs in what NASA called the most complex in-orbit repair operation to date.
The Seinfeld finale was almost universally criticized despite record viewership. The May 14, 1998, episode drew 76.3 million viewers but holds a 28% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics and audiences found the courtroom ending unsatisfying. Co-creator Larry David later used the format of putting characters on trial for selfishness as the template for the Curb Your Enthusiasm season 10 finale (2020).
Facebook’s IPO was the most anticipated in tech history — and nearly collapsed. Technical errors at NASDAQ on May 14, 2012, caused a 30-minute delay and left approximately 30 million trade orders unexecuted. The share price barely held above $38 on day one. NASDAQ later paid $62 million in settlements to affected investors. Facebook’s stock dropped to $17.55 by September 2012, then recovered.
Henry IV of France was almost assassinated 12 times before May 14, 1610. According to the records of his reign compiled by his finance minister, Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully, the king survived at least 12 documented assassination attempts before the 13th, which succeeded. His assassin, Ravaillac, acted alone; however, historians have debated for centuries whether he was backed by the Spanish Crown or the Jesuits.
FAQ – May 14 in History
What happened on May 14, 1948?
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel in Tel Aviv, eight hours before the expiration of the British Mandate over Palestine. The United States extended recognition 11 minutes after the declaration under President Harry S. Truman.
What is celebrated on May 14?
May 14 is observed as Israel’s Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) on its Gregorian anniversary, National Dance Like a Chicken Day, and National Buttermilk Biscuit Day in the United States, and the birthday of the Fahrenheit temperature scale.
Who was born on May 14 in history?
Notable people born on May 14 include Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg (1984), actress Cate Blanchett (1969), filmmaker George Lucas (1944), and singer Bobby Darin (1936).
What happened on May 14, 1796?
On May 14, 1796, English physician Edward Jenner administered the world’s first smallpox vaccination to 8-year-old James Phipps using cowpox material, establishing the foundation of modern immunology and leading ultimately to the global eradication of smallpox in 1980.
What happened on May 14, 1973?
On May 14, 1973, NASA launched Skylab, the United States’ first space station, aboard a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The station was damaged during launch but was repaired in orbit by the first crew and hosted three astronaut missions before being deorbited in 1979.
