Today in History: RMS Titanic strikes an iceberg in 1912, leading to its sinking the next day

The following is a chronological list of notable events that occurred on April 14 throughout history:

966 – Christianization of Poland
Duke Mieszko I of Poland converted to Christianity, marking the beginning of Poland’s Christianization and its integration into Western Christendom.

1775 – First American abolition society founded
The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage was established in Philadelphia, becoming the first American society dedicated to the abolition of slavery.

1828 – Publication of Webster’s Dictionary
Noah Webster published the first edition of his “American Dictionary of the English Language,” standardizing American English spelling and usage.

1865 – Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and died the following day.

1912 – RMS Titanic strikes an iceberg
The British ocean liner RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic at approximately 11:40 p.m. ship’s time, leading to its sinking in the early hours of April 15.

1935 – “Black Sunday” Dust Bowl storm
One of the worst dust storms of the Dust Bowl era, known as “Black Sunday,” swept across the central United States, causing extensive damage and displacing thousands.

1944 – Bombay explosion
The cargo ship SS Fort Stikine exploded in the Victoria Dock of Bombay (now Mumbai), India, killing around 1,300 people and injuring approximately 3,000.

1986 – U.S. airstrikes against Libya
The United States launched airstrikes against Libya in retaliation for the bombing of a Berlin discotheque that killed two American servicemen and a Turkish woman.

1988 – Geneva Accords signed on Afghanistan
Representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and the Soviet Union signed the Geneva Accords, leading to the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

2003 – Completion of the Human Genome Project
Scientists announced the successful completion of the Human Genome Project, having mapped the entire human genome, a milestone in genetics and medicine.