May 14
1796
Edward Jenner administered the first smallpox vaccine to 8-year-old James Phipps.
1804
The Lewis and Clark expedition set out from St. Louis.
1904
The Olympic Games were held in the United States for the first time, in St. Louis, Missouri.
1948
British rule in Palestine came to an end as The Jewish National Council proclaimed the State of Israel. Within hours, Israel was under attack from Arab forces.
1955
The Warsaw Pact was signed by the Soviet Union and seven other Communist bloc countries. It finally dissolved in 1991.
1973
Skylab, the United States’ first space station, was launched into orbit.
1998
Frank Sinatra died at the age of 82.
Birthdays
George Lucas
1944—, American film director and producer, born in Modesto, Calif.
Thomas Gainsborough
painter (1727)
Robert Owen
social reformer (1771)
Otto Klemperer
conductor (1885)
David Byrne
musician (1952)
Cate Blanchett
actress (1969)