Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
January 14 Wednesday, January 14, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 14 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
1967
Culture 59 years ago
Counterculture of the 1960s: The Human Be-In takes place in San Francisco, California's Golden Gate Park, launching the Summer of Love.
The Human Be-In gathers thousands in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, marking the beginning of the counterculture movement's Summer of Love.
History
What happened on January 14
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1236UK history
King Henry III of England marries Eleanor of Provence.
King Henry III of England marries Eleanor of Provence, solidifying alliances between England and Provence.
- 1301Royalty
Andrew III of Hungary dies, ending the Árpád dynasty in Hungary.
Andrew III's death marks the end of the Árpád dynasty in Hungary.
- 1784US history
American Revolutionary War: Ratification Day, United States: Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain.
Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain, formally ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing American independence.
- 1797War
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.
Napoleon Bonaparte secures a decisive victory at Rivoli, ending the War of the First Coalition and establishing French dominance in Italy.
- 1814European history
Treaty of Kiel: Frederick VI of Denmark cedes the Kingdom of Norway to Charles XIII of Sweden in return for Pomerania.
Frederick VI of Denmark ceded Norway to Charles XIII of Sweden in exchange for territories in Pomerania.
- 1858Royalty
Napoleon III of France escapes an assassination attempt made by Felice Orsini and his accomplices in Paris.
Napoleon III narrowly avoids injury during an assassination attempt in Paris by Felice Orsini and his associates.
- 1907Disaster
An earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica kills more than 1,000 people.
An earthquake strikes Kingston, killing over 1,000 people.
- 1967Culture
Counterculture of the 1960s: The Human Be-In takes place in San Francisco, California's Golden Gate Park, launching the Summer of Love.
The Human Be-In gathers thousands in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, marking the beginning of the counterculture movement's Summer of Love.
- 2016Crime
Multiple explosions reported near the Sarinah Building, Jakarta, followed by shootout between perpetrators and the police, killing seven people. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility.
Multiple explosions near the Sarinah Building in Jakarta were followed by a shootout that killed seven; the Islamic State later claimed responsibility.
- 2019Disaster
A Saha Airlines Boeing 707 crashes at Fath Air Base near Karaj in Alborz Province, Iran, killing 15 people.
A Saha Airlines Boeing 707 crashes at Fath Air Base, killing 15 people.
- 2024Royalty
Queen Margrethe II abdicates as Queen of Denmark and is succeeded by her son, Frederik X.
Margrethe II abdicates as Queen of Denmark after 52 years on the throne, succeeded by her son Frederik X.
- 2026Disaster
Thirty-two people are killed when a crane falls onto a passenger train in Sikhio district, Thailand.
A crane collapses onto a train in Sikhio district, Thailand, killing thirty-two people.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 14
7 this date All birthdays
Murray Bookchin
American author and philosopher
Murray Bookchin, the American social theorist and political philosopher who pioneered the theory of social ecology and influenced the environmental movement, was born today in 1921.
Born
1921
Died
2006
Benedict Arnold
American-British general
1741 – 1801
Johan Rudolph Thorbecke
Dutch historian, jurist, and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of the Netherlands
1798 – 1872
Don Garlits
American race car driver and engineer
b. 1932 · 94
Siegmund Nimsgern
German opera singer
1940 – 2025
Carl Weathers
American football player and actor
1948 – 2024
Frankie Bridge
English singer-songwriter and dancer
b. 1989 · 37
Music
The number one songs on January 14
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on January 14, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport January 14, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science January 14, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Defender of the Motherland Day (Uzbekistan)
International
Defenders of the Motherland Day also known as Uzbek Army Day is a holiday observed in Uzbekistan
Flag Day (Georgia)
International
A flag day is a flag-related holiday, a day designated for flying a certain flag or a day set aside to celebrate a historical event such as a nation's adoption of its flag
National Forest Conservation Day (Thailand)
International
Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors
Old New Year, and its related observance: Azhyrnykhua (Abkhazia)
International
The following is a list of public holidays in Abkhazia
Old New Year, and its related observance: Yennayer (Berbers)
International
Yennayer is the first month of the Berber (Amazigh) calendar
Ratification Day (United States)
International
Ratification Day in the United States is the anniversary of the congressional proclamation of the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, on January 14, 1784, at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Ma
❝
The only way we'll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world.
— Murray Bookchin · born January 14, 1921