History for August 14

History for August 14 - On-This-Day.com
Ernest Thayer 1863, John Galsworthy 1867, Steve Martin 1945 - Actor comedian


Gary Larson 1950 - Creator of "The Far Side", Earvin "Magic" Johnson 1959 - Basketball player, Tim Tebow 1987 - Football player


1888 - A patent for the electric meter was granted to Oliver B. Shallenberger.


1896 - Gold was discovered in Canada's Yukon Territory. Within the next year more than 30,000 people rushed to the area to look for gold.


1919 - About 1 million tons of ice and rock broke off of a glacier near Mont Blanc, France. Nine people were killed in the incident.


1935 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. The act created unemployment insurance and pension plans for the elderly.


1945 - It was announced by U.S. President Truman that Japan had surrendered unconditionally. The surrender ended World War II.


1947 - Pakistan became independent from British rule.


1953 - The whiffle ball was invented.


1980 - People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was incorporated.