119 things happened on 14 January, from 83 BC to 2024. UK stories come first, then the rest of the world.
1943 · 83 years ago
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt began a meeting in Casablanca, Morocco, that lasted until 24 January. They planned the next steps of the Second World War, including an invasion of Sicily and Italy. They also ann…
UK history first: stories from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UK story
King Henry III of England married Eleanor of Provence, a noblewoman from the south of France, at Canterbury Cathedral. She had never seen Henry before the wedding and had never been to England. After riding to London, Eleanor was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey, followed by a grand banquet. She later ruled England as regent while Henry was away in France in 1253.
UK story
Meeting in Annapolis, Maryland, the American Congress ratified, or officially approved, the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain. This marked the official end of the American Revolutionary War, also called the American War of Independence. American forces led by George Washington had defeated the British Army. Through the treaty, Britain accepted that the United States was an independent country.
UK story
The ocean liner RMS Oceanic was launched at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, watched by more than 50,000 people. Built for the White Star Line, she was the longest ship since Brunel's famous Great Eastern. When she entered service later that year, she was the largest ship in the world. She was also the last British liner to be launched in the 19th century.
UK story
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt began a meeting in Casablanca, Morocco, that lasted until 24 January. They planned the next steps of the Second World War, including an invasion of Sicily and Italy. They also announced that they would only accept the 'unconditional surrender' of their enemies. This meant the Allies would keep fighting until they won completely.
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team reached the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica, aboard the ship Fram. They built their base hut, called Framheim, at the Bay of Whales. Amundsen's team relied on skis and sled dogs. On 14 December 1911 they became the first people to reach the South Pole, five weeks before Robert Falcon Scott's British team.
Norway claimed a huge region of Antarctica called Queen Maud Land, named after Norway's Queen Maud. It covers about a fifth of the continent, roughly the size of India. It was the first part of Antarctica ever to be sighted, in 1820, but among the last to be explored. Since 1961 it has been covered by the Antarctic Treaty, which keeps Antarctica free of military activity.
Margrethe II became Queen of Denmark, the first Danish queen to reign since 1412. Exactly 52 years later, on 14 January 2024, she abdicated, which means she chose to give up the throne. Her son became King Frederik X. It was the first time a Danish monarch had given up the throne willingly since 1146.
Elvis Presley, known as the 'King of Rock and Roll', performed a concert in Honolulu, Hawaii, called Aloha from Hawaii. It was beamed live by satellite to television audiences in Asia and Oceania, and shown later in Europe and America. The show raised money for a cancer research fund. The soundtrack album became Elvis's last number one album in the United States.
Dutch–Portuguese War: The Dutch siege of Malacca against the Portuguese ended when Dutch troops seized the city's citadel (depicted).
Philip V (pictured), the first Bourbon king of Spain, abdicated in favour of his seventeen-year-old eldest son, who became Louis I.
The Third Battle of Panipat, the largest battle of the 18th century, is fought in India between the Afghan Durrani Empire under Ahmad Shah Durrani, and the Maratha Empire under Sadashivrao Bhau.
The Battle of Rivoli is fought with a decisive French victory by Napoleon Bonaparte, marking the beginning of the end of the War of the First Coalition and the start of French hegemony over Italy for two decades.
Sweden and Denmark–Norway signed the Treaty of Kiel, whereby Frederick VI of Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden in return for the Swedish holdings in Pomerania.
Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca (poster pictured), based on the play La Tosca by French dramatist Victorien Sardou, premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.
World War II: Japan begins Operation Ke, the successful operation to evacuate its forces from Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal campaign.
NBC's long-running morning news program Today debuts, with host Dave Garroway.
Josip Broz Tito is elected the first President of Yugoslavia.
The Hudson Motor Car Company merges with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation forming the American Motors Corporation.
Kripalu Maharaj is named fifth Jagadguru (world teacher) after giving seven days of speeches before 500 Hindu scholars.
The Reserve Bank of Australia, the country's central bank and banknote issuing authority authorized by the 1959 Reserve Bank Act, is established.
Vietnam War: United States and Australian troops ended Operation Crimp; during the military operation, troops discovered an extensive tunnel network used by the Viet Cong.
Counterculture of the 1960s: The Human Be-In takes place in San Francisco, California's Golden Gate Park, launching the Summer of Love.
The self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria surrendered to the federal government less than three years after declaring independence, ending the Nigerian Civil War.
Arab Spring: Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country after several violent protests.
In the "Minneapolis Miracle", American football player Stefon Diggs caught a 61-yard (56 m) touchdown pass that secured the Minnesota Vikings' victory in the National Football Conference divisional playoff game.
Queen Margrethe II abdicates as Queen of Denmark and is succeeded by her son, Frederik X.
Every answer is somewhere on this page. Have a go, then check!
In which year did this happen: “Churchill and Roosevelt meet at the Casablanca Conference”?
C: 1943. 1943 — that’s 83 years ago. Find it on the page
In which year did this happen: “The USA ratifies the peace treaty that ends its war with Britain”?
C: 1784. 1784 — that’s 242 years ago. Find it on the page
Which of these happened first?
A: King Henry III marries Eleanor of Provence. 1236: King Henry III marries Eleanor of Provence · 1784: The USA ratifies the peace treaty that ends its war with Britain · 1943: Churchill and Roosevelt meet at the Casablanca Conference Find it on the page
“King Henry III marries Eleanor of Provence” happened in 1236. How many years ago was that?
A: 790 years. 2026 − 1236 = 790. Find it on the page
Famous people whose birthday is 14 January.
UK story
Declan Rice is an English footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for England. He began his career at West Ham United and captained them to a European trophy, the UEFA Europa Conference League, in 2023. That summer he joined Arsenal for £100 million. He made his England debut in 2019 and has played at European Championships and World Cups.
UK story
Hugh Lofting was an English writer who created Doctor Dolittle, a doctor who can talk to animals in their own languages. Lofting first invented the character in illustrated letters he sent to his children while serving as a soldier in the First World War. The first book, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, came out in 1920. Lofting later settled in the United States.
Well-known people who died on 14 January.
Festivals, holidays and saints’ days celebrated on 14 January somewhere in the world.
Makar Sankranti is a Hindu mid-winter harvest festival in India and Nepal, usually held on 14 January. It marks the Sun's journey northwards after the winter solstice, and many people give thanks to the Sun. Celebrations include kite flying, bonfires, fairs, dancing and feasts. In some areas children go from house to house singing and asking for treats.
Content note: these entries mention things like war, violence, deaths, disasters or crime. They are part of history, but they can be upsetting. Grown-ups and teachers: you may want to read them first. They come straight from Wikipedia and have not been rewritten for children.
Stories with a heading have been written for young readers by A Day in the Past, using the linked articles as sources. Other entries show text from Wikipedia’s “January 14” page and its “On this day” feed, written by Wikipedia contributors and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. Each “Read more” link goes to the article an entry is based on. Photos are credited under each picture. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us.