Today In History [14th August, 2015]

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.
Today in History

August 14

1457		The first book ever printed is published by a German astrologer named Faust. He is thrown in jail while trying to sell books in Paris. Authorities concluded that all the identical books meant Faust had dealt with the devil.
1559		Spanish explorer de Luna enters Pensacola Bay, Florida.
1605		The Popham expedition reaches the Sagadahoc River in present-day Maine and settles there.
1756		French commander Louis Montcalm takes Fort Oswego, New England, from the British.
1793		Republican troops in France lay siege to the city of Lyons.
1900		The European allies enter Beijing, relieving their besieged legations from the Chinese Boxers.
1917		The Chinese Parliament declares war on the Central Powers.
1942		Dwight D. Eisenhower is named the Anglo-American commander for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa.
1945		Japan announces its unconditional surrender in World War II.
1947		Pakistan becomes an independent country.
1969		British troops arrived Northern Ireland in response to sectarian violence between Protestants and Roman Catholics.
1973		The United States ends the "secret" bombing of Cambodia.
1987		Mark McGwire hits his 49th home run of the season, setting the major league home run record for a rookie.
1995		Shannon Faulker becomes the first female cadet in the long history of South Carolina’s state military college, The Citadel. Her presence was met with intense resistance, reportedly including death threats, and she left the school a week later.
2007		Four co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks in Yazidi towns near Mosul, Iraq, kill more than 400 people.
2010		First-ever Summer Youth Olympic Games open, in Singapore. Athletes must be 14–18 years old.
Born on August 14
1777		Hans Christian Oersted, Danish scientist who discoverd electromagnetism.
1863		Ernest L. Thayer, author of the poem "Casey at the Bat."
1925		Russell Baker, author and columnist for The New York Times.
1938		Niara Shudarkasa, educator and first woman president of Lincoln University.
1945		Steve Martin, American comedian, actor, musician and screenwriter, his many awards include a Lifetime Achievement in Comedy (American Comedy Awards, USA), several Emmys, and  Grammys for Best Comedy Album (1977, 1979) and Best Bluegrass Album (2009, 2013)
1947		Danielle Steel, the fourth-bestselling author of all time.
1950		Gary Larson, cartoonist (The Far Side).
1966		Halle Berry, actress, her many awards include a Golden Globe (Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, TV movie) and and an Oscar (Monster’s Ball).