February 14: What Happened on This Day in History
February 14th marks the 45th day of the Gregorian calendar year. There are 320 days (321 in case of leap years) remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on February 14th in history, famous birthdays on February 14th, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to February 14.
What happened on February 14?
Here's what happened on February 14th in history:
- 2021: Guinea officially declared an Ebola epidemic after three confirmed deaths, marking the country's first Ebola outbreak since the devastating 2014-2016 West African epidemic. This declaration signals potential public health risks and necessitates immediate international medical intervention to prevent widespread transmission of the deadly virus.
- 2014: On February 14, 2014, Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta resigned after his center-left Democratic Party overwhelmingly backed a motion by its new leader, Matteo Renzi, calling for a new government. Renzi, the mayor of Florence, was poised to replace Letta, becoming Italy's youngest-ever prime minister. source: aljazeera.com
- 2008: On February 14, 2008, Kosovo's parliament declared independence from Serbia, a move that was met with mixed reactions internationally. The declaration aimed to establish Kosovo as a sovereign state following years of conflict and negotiations. source: bbc.com
- 2002: On February 14, 2002, Mick Tucker, the drummer for the British glam rock band Sweet, died at the age of 54 from leukemia. He was known for his energetic performances and contributions to the band's success in the 1970s. source: theguardian.com
- 1995: On February 14, 1995, the Portland Trail Blazers traded guard-forward Clyde Drexler and forward Tracy Murray to the Houston Rockets in exchange for forward Otis Thorpe, the rights to Marcelo Nicola, and a 1995 first-round draft pick. This move reunited Drexler with his former University of Houston teammate, Hakeem Olajuwon, and contributed to the Rockets' second consecutive NBA championship later that year. source: houstonchronicle.com
- 1994: Andrei Chikatilo, a notorious Soviet serial killer, was executed by firing squad on February 14, 1994. He was convicted of murdering 52 people, primarily women and children, between 1978 and 1990. His case highlighted significant flaws in the Soviet criminal justice system. source: bbc.com
- 1990: On February 14, 1990, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft took a photograph of Earth from a distance of 3.7 billion miles (6 billion kilometers), capturing our planet as a tiny speck of light. This image, known as the 'Pale Blue Dot,' was part of a series of images intended to create the first 'family portrait' of the solar system. The photograph was taken just minutes before Voyager 1 powered off its cameras to conserve energy for its journey into interstellar space. source: science.nasa.gov
- 1988: On February 14, 1988, Bobby Allison, at 50, became the oldest driver to win the Daytona 500, holding off his son, Davey Allison, who finished second. This marked the first father-son 1-2 finish in the race's history. The victory was Allison's third Daytona 500 win and his 85th and final NASCAR Cup Series victory. source: washingtonpost.com
- 1985: On February 14, 1985, American journalist Jeremy Levin, CNN's Beirut bureau chief, escaped from captivity in Lebanon after 11 months. He managed to slip his chains, tied blankets together to descend from a window, and walked to a Syrian military post in Baalbek, where he was handed over to U.S. officials. Levin was kidnapped on March 7, 1984, while walking to his office in West Beirut. source: washingtonpost.com
- 1981: On February 14, 1981, a devastating fire erupted at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland, during a Valentine's Day disco event. The blaze resulted in 48 fatalities and 214 injuries among the 841 attendees. The fire's origin was traced to an electrical fault in a first-floor storeroom containing highly flammable materials, which rapidly spread due to inadequate safety measures, including locked or obstructed emergency exits. In 2024, a fresh inquest concluded that all 48 victims died as a result of unlawful killing, providing long-awaited justice for the victims' families. source: theguardian.com
What famous birthdays are on February 14?
On February 14th there are the following famous birthdays:
![Florence Henderson]()
Florence Henderson (1934)Florence Henderson was an American actress and singer, best known for her role as Carol Brady on the classic television sitcom 'The Brady Bunch.' Her career spanned over six decades, making her a beloved figure in American television history. [bio]
![Jack Benny]()
Jack Benny (1894)Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, radio, television, and film actor, and violinist. He was one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century, known particularly for his comic timing and his role as the host of The Jack Benny Program in radio and television. [bio]
![Rob Thomas]()
Rob Thomas (1972)Rob Thomas is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Matchbox Twenty. He has also achieved success as a solo artist and as a collaborator, notably co-writing and singing on Santana's Grammy-winning hit 'Smooth.' [bio]
![Hugh Downs]()
Hugh Downs (1921)Hugh Downs was an American broadcaster, television host, news anchor, and author known for his long and distinguished career in television, particularly as co-host of 'Today' and longtime anchor of '20/20.' [bio]
![Danai Gurira]()
Danai Gurira (1978)Danai Gurira is a Zimbabwean-American actress and playwright best known for her roles as Michonne in "The Walking Dead" TV series and as Okoye in Marvel's "Black Panther" and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is also recognized for her work as a playwright with her Tony Award-nominated play "Eclipsed." Gurira is known for her powerful performances and contributions to diversifying … [bio]
![Freddie Highmore]()
Freddie Highmore (1992)Freddie Highmore is an English actor, best known for his roles as a child actor in films like 'Finding Neverland' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' as well as his acclaimed lead role in the TV series 'Bates Motel' and 'The Good Doctor.' [bio]
![Simon Pegg]()
Simon Pegg (1970)Simon Pegg is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer, best known for his work on the sitcom 'Spaced' and the 'Three Flavours Cornetto' film trilogy ('Shaun of the Dead', 'Hot Fuzz', 'The World's End') in collaboration with Nick Frost and Edgar Wright. He is also recognized for starring as Benji Dunn in the 'Mission: Impossible' film series and as … [bio]
![Jim Kelly]()
Jim Kelly (1960)Jim Kelly is a former American football quarterback who played his entire National Football League (NFL) career with the Buffalo Bills from 1986 to 1996. He is known for leading the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances and is regarded as one of the premier quarterbacks of his era. [bio]
![Guillermo Francella]()
Guillermo Francella (1955)Guillermo Francella is a prominent Argentine actor and comedian, widely recognized for his extensive work in film, television, and theater. Known for his comedic roles, he has also achieved acclaim in dramatic performances, making him a versatile and enduring figure in Argentine entertainment. [bio]
![Lois Maxwell]()
Lois Maxwell (1927)Lois Maxwell was a Canadian actress best known for her role as Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond film series, appearing in 14 Bond films from 1962 to 1985. [bio]
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on February 14?
On February 14th the following celebrities died:
![Louis Jourdan]()
Louis Jourdan (2015)Louis Jourdan was a French film and television actor best known for his suave roles in Hollywood films during the mid-20th century. His most notable performances include starring as Gaston in the musical 'Gigi' (1958) and as the villain Kamal Khan in the James Bond film 'Octopussy' (1983). Jourdan was celebrated for his sophistication and versatility on screen. [bio]
![Sig Ruman]()
Sig Ruman (1967)Sig Ruman was a German-American character actor known for his roles in numerous Hollywood films, especially in collaboration with the Marx Brothers and director Billy Wilder. Renowned for his comic villain roles, he appeared in classics such as 'A Night at the Opera' and 'Stalag 17'. [bio]
![David Hilbert]()
David Hilbert (1943)Prussian mathematician, author, and professor at gottingen between 1895 and the end of his days.
![John Ehrlichman]()
John Ehrlichman (1999)Key Nixon administration official who served as domestic affairs advisor from 1969 to 1973.
![Dolly]()
Dolly (2003)Dolly the sheep was the first mammal successfully cloned from an adult somatic cell, a groundbreaking scientific achievement that...
![Frederick Loewe]()
Frederick Loewe (1988)Frederick Loewe was a renowned American composer famous for his Broadway musicals, most notably 'My Fair Lady'.
![Carlos Menem]()
Carlos Menem (2021)Carlos Menem was a prominent Argentine politician who served as President from 1989 to 1999, known for implementing neoliberal economic...
![Philip Levine]()
Philip Levine (2015)Renowned American poet who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1995 for his collection 'The Simple Truth', known for his powerful...
![Rafiq Hariri]()
Rafiq Hariri (2005)Rafiq Hariri was a prominent Lebanese businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Lebanon, playing a crucial role in...
What day of the year is February 14?
February 14th marks the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar.
There are 320 days remaining until the end of the year (or 321 days in case of leap years).
February 14th is the 14th day of the month of February.
What zodiac sign is associated with the day February 14?
The zodiac sign associated with February 14th is Aquarius according to the Western Zodiac.
