Following are some of the major events to have occurred on June 14:
1777: The Second Continental Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States, a symbol that would go on to represent the nation worldwide and become an iconic emblem.
1801: Martha Washington hosts the first Quadrille Ball at the President’s Mansion, later known as the White House, setting a precedent for social events and celebrations in the executive residence.
1846: The settlement of Yerba Buena in Alta California is renamed San Francisco, a name proposed by its founder, José Joaquín Jiménez. The city would go on to become a cultural and economic center of the American West.
1922: Insulin becomes widely available for diabetic patients as the Eli Lilly Company in Indianapolis begins its commercial production and distribution. This development revolutionizes the treatment of diabetes.
1940: World War II: Paris falls to German forces, leading to the city’s occupation and the establishment of the Vichy French collaborationist regime.
1949: George Orwell’s novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four” is first published. The book becomes a classic, known for its portrayal of a dystopian future under constant surveillance and the phrase “Big Brother is watching.”
1967: The United States Supreme Court rules in favor of Loving v. Virginia, striking down all remaining laws prohibiting interracial marriage in the country, a landmark decision for civil rights.
1982: The Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina comes to an end with a British victory, resulting in the restoration of British control over the Falkland Islands..
