August 14^th in history

Encyclopædia Britannica presents people and events from this day in history:

Halle Berry: Biography of the Day

Halle Berry

Born this day in 1966, Halle Berry in 2002 became the first African American to win the Academy Award for best actress, earning the honour for her nuanced portrayal of Leticia Musgrove in Monster's Ball (2001).

 

Cologne Cathedral completed: 14 August 1880 - This Day in History

Originally started in 1248, construction of the cathedral (Kölner Dom) in Cologne, Germany—the largest Gothic church in northern Europe and the city's major landmark—was finally completed on this day in 1880.

More Events on this day:

1935: The U.S. Congress enacted the Social Security Act, establishing a permanent national old-age pension system through employer and employee contributions.

1917: China declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War I.

1900: An international force seized Beijing to crush the Boxer Rebellion.

1457: The first book printed in Europe with a colophon bearing the name of the printer was completed in Mainz, Germany.

 

Magic Johnson: Biography of the Day

Magic Johnson

"They said playing basketball would kill me. Well, not playing basketball was killing me."

Magic Johnson

American basketball player Earvin (“Magic”) Johnson, born this day in 1959, led the National Basketball Association (NBA) Los Angeles Lakers to five championships. At the time of his initial retirement due to HIV infection in 1991, Johnson was the NBA's all-time leader in assists (9,921); he played again briefly in the mid-1990s.

 

Atlantic Charter issued: 14 August 1941 - This Day in History

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the Atlantic Charter on this day. It was a joint declaration between the two nations during World War II. The charter stated, among other points, that neither nation sought any aggrandizement, they desired no territorial changes without the free assent of the peoples concerned, and they would try to promote equal access for all states to trade and to raw materials and, pending a general security through renunciation of force, potential aggressors must be disarmed.

More Events on this day:

1935: The U.S. Congress enacted the Social Security Act, establishing a permanent national old-age pension system through employer and employee contributions.

1917: China declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War I.

1900: An international force seized Beijing to crush the Boxer Rebellion.

1880: Construction was completed on Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) in Germany.

1457: The first printed book in Europe with a colophon bearing the name of the printer was completed in Mainz, Germany.