On May 14, 1787, the Constitutional Convention was scheduled to convene in Philadelphia, but because only some of the delegates were present, it was delayed until May 25th.
Image: A close up of the Rising Sun Chair used by George Washington during the Constitutional Convention at Independence Hall in 1787 of via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On May 14, 1776, Thomas Jefferson returned to Philadelphia to rejoin Second Continental Congress.
He took up residence at the home of Benjamin Randolph, a cabinetmaker, on Chestnut Street where he stayed the year prior.
However, this time, his stay at Randolph’s residence only lasted nine days as he would move to the Graff House where he would draft the Declaration of Independence that June.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On May 14, 1804, at 4pm the Corps of Discovery departed Camp Dubois in Illinois to begin the over two year journey which would become known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Image: A reconstruction of Camp Dubois at the Lewis and Clark Historic Site in Illinois by Kbh3rd via Wikimedia Commons – CC BY SA BY 3.0
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt eating a five cent meal during a relief dinner. Sitting next to her is a mother on relief and a three-year-old child.
May 14, 1940
via Library of Congress, no known restrictions
An advertisement from 1912 for the first film on the Titanic titled “Saved From The Titanic” that’s dated Tuesday, May 14th.
Released just one month after the Titanic sank.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On May 14, 1973, Skylab, America’s first space station, was launched by NASA.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On May 14, 1917 the silent film “A Romance of The Redwoods” starring Mary Pickford and directed by Cecil B. DeMille was released.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.
The DuSable Bridge, originally opened as the Michigan Avenue Bridge on May 14, 1920, was renamed in 2010 to honor Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, Chicago’s first non-Indigenous settler.
The bridge features four bas-reliefs, including “Regeneration” (shown), which symbolizes the city’s renewal after the Great Fire of 1871 and highlights the transformative power of the arts in rebuilding civilization.
Image from JeremyA via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
On May 14, 1761, Samuel Dexter the 4th U.S. Secretary of War and the 3rd U.S. Secretary of the Treasury was born in Boston.
“I well remember, with what appropriate felicity he undertook in one cause to analyze the sources of patriotism. I wish it were possible to preserve the whole in the language, in which it was delivered. No one, who heard him describe the influence of local scenery upon the human heart, but felt his soul dissolve within him, I can recall but imperfectly a single passage, and, stripped of its natural connexion, it affords but a glimmering of its original brightness. We love not our country, said the orator, from a blind and unmeaning attachment, because it is the place of our birth. It is the scene of our earliest joys and sorrows. Every spot has become consecrated by some youthful sport, some tender friendship, some endearing affection, some reverential feeling. It is associated with all our moral habits, our principles and our virtues. The very sod seems almost a part of ourselves, for there are entombed the bones of our ancestors. Even the dark valley of the shadow of death is not without its consolations, for we pass it in company with our friends. In a still more recent in- stance, and indeed in one of the last causes he ever argued, he took the occasion of an appropriate discussion, to expound his own views of the constitution, and, dropping the character of an advocate, to perform the paramount duty of a citizen. He seemed, as if giving his parting advice and benedictions to his country, and, as if he had worked up his mind to a mighty effort to vindicate those solid maxims of government and policy, by which alone the union of the states might be upheld and perpetuated. It is deeply to be regretted, that his just and elevated views are now confined to the frail memories of those who heard him.”
From: Sketch of The Life of Samuel Dexter by Joseph Story, published in 1816
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After two years of research and development, Boeing’s first commercial jetliner, the Boeing 707, rolled out of its hangar on May 14, 1954.
Image: Roll out of the Boeing 707 on May 14, 1954 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Jim Henson and George Lucas in 1986
George Lucas was born on May 14, 1944 in Modesto, California.
Image: AP Wirephoto via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
The Battle of Jackson in the capital of Mississippi was fought on May 14, 1863 and resulted in Union victory.
The city of Jackson, Mississippi was named in honor of President Andrew Jackson for his victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Three Rochester men, each a veteran of all campaigns in which the 77th Div has participated, move up to the front
May 14, 1945
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Born May 14, 1936 singer, songwriter, musician, and actor Bobby Darin had a number of hits like “Splish Splash,” “Dream Lover,” “Beyond the Sea” and the classic “Mack the Knife.” Darin was also an accomplished chess player. Rheumatic fever in childhood weakened his heart and he died at age 37 undergoing surgery.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright, public domain in the US
American actress Billie Dove was born on May 14, 1903 in New York City.
She retired at the height of her career in 1932 and only made one cameo appearance 30 years later in the 1962 film Diamond Head.
Dove was also a poet, a painter and a pilot.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US
