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: A tragic maritime disaster occurred on the Congo River in western Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a boat carrying approximately 700 passengers capsized, resulting in at least 60 confirmed fatalities and hundreds of people reported missing. The incident highlights the significant risks associated with river transportation in the region, where overloaded vessels and poor maritime safety standards often lead to catastrophic accidents.
- 2008: Swiss banking giant UBS announced a substantial fourth quarter 2007 financial loss of 12.5 billion Swiss Francs (equivalent to US$11.3 billion), signaling significant challenges in the global financial sector during the early stages of the 2008 economic downturn.
- 2002: Nándor Hidegkuti, a prominent Hungarian football player and notable figure in the sport's history, passed away. Hidegkuti was known for his significant contributions to Hungarian football during the mid-20th century.
- 2000: On February 14, 2000, NASA's NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft made history by becoming the first spacecraft to successfully enter orbit around an asteroid. This groundbreaking mission involved positioning the spacecraft around asteroid 433 Eros, marking a significant milestone in space exploration and our understanding of small celestial bodies.
- 1995: Comedian Roseanne Barr married her bodyguard Ben Thomas in a private ceremony.
- 1994: Michael V. Gazzo, a notable American actor known for his roles in film and television, passed away on February 14, 1994. He was 71 years old at the time of his death.
- 1990: Graeme Hole, an Australian cricket player who represented his country in 18 Test matches and scored 789 runs, passed away. His contribution to Australian cricket marked him as a notable player of his era.
- 1985: Miki Yeung, a notable Hong Kong singer and actress, was born, contributing to the entertainment landscape of Hong Kong.
- 1981: On February 14, 1981, the Australian government officially withdrew diplomatic recognition of the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia, signaling international condemnation of the Khmer Rouge's brutal governance and human rights violations.
- 1977: Queen Alia of Jordan, the 28-year-old wife of King Hussein, tragically died in a helicopter crash on February 14, 1977. The accident occurred during a severe rainstorm while returning to Amman after an inspection trip to Tafilah. Along with the queen, Health Minister Mohammed al-Beshir, the pilot, and a Jordanian Air Force medic also perished in the incident. Her death was a significant loss for the Jordanian royal family and marked a poignant moment in the country's modern history.
What famous birthdays are on February 14?
On February 14th there are the following famous birthdays:
![Jim Kelly]()
Jim Kelly (1960)Jim Kelly was a legendary NFL quarterback who played for the Buffalo Bills and is a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, known for leading...
![Gregory Hines]()
Gregory Hines (1946)Gregory Hines was a legendary African American tap dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer who revolutionized tap dancing in the 20th...
![Simon Pegg]()
Simon Pegg (1970)Simon Pegg is a renowned British actor, comedian, and screenwriter famous for his comedic roles in cult films like 'Shaun of the Dead' and...
![Rob Thomas]()
Rob Thomas (1972)Lead singer of the popular rock band Matchbox Twenty, known for hit songs like 'Push' and 'Unwell'.
![Renée Fleming]()
Renée Fleming (1959)Renée Fleming is a world-renowned American soprano who has performed in major opera houses globally.
![Lois Maxwell]()
Lois Maxwell (1927)Canadian actress best known for playing Miss Moneypenny in multiple James Bond films across several decades, becoming an iconic supporting...
![Thelma Ritter]()
Thelma Ritter (1905)Acclaimed character actress known for her distinctive voice and comedic timing, who appeared in numerous films including 'Rear Window' and...
![Florence Henderson]()
Florence Henderson (1934)Iconic American actress and television star best known for her role as Carol Brady in the groundbreaking family sitcom 'The Brady Bunch'.
![Meg Tilly]()
Meg Tilly (1960)Meg Tilly is a Canadian actress and novelist who gained prominence in the 1980s with critically acclaimed performances in films like 'The...
![Danai Gurira]()
Danai Gurira (1978)Zimbabwean-American actress known for her powerful roles in 'The Walking Dead' and Marvel's 'Black Panther', acclaimed for her stage and...
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)Renowned French actor who starred in numerous Hollywood classics, known for his sophisticated charm and memorable roles in films like 'Gigi'...
![Sig Ruman]()
- David Hilbert (1943)
Prussian mathematician, author, and professor at gottingen between 1895 and the end of his days.
- Carlos Menem (2021)
Carlos Menem was a prominent Argentine politician who served as President from 1989 to 1999, known for implementing neoliberal economic...
- John Ehrlichman (1999)
Key Nixon administration official who served as domestic affairs advisor from 1969 to 1973.
- 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...
- Dolly (2003)
Dolly the sheep was the first mammal successfully cloned from an adult somatic cell, a groundbreaking scientific achievement that...
- Frederick Loewe (1988)
Frederick Loewe was a renowned American composer famous for his Broadway musicals, most notably 'My Fair Lady'.
- 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.
