This Day In History : February 14

1963 United States

US Launches Syncom 1, the First Geostationary Communications Satellite

Syncom 1, launched on February 14, 1963, by the United States, became the world's first geostationary communications satellite. Positioned in geostationary orbit, it revolutionized global communications by providing continuous coverage over a specific area of the Earth's surface, laying the foundation for modern satellite communication systems.

Also on This Day in History February 14

Discover what happened on February 14 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, February 14
  • 1859 George Washington Gale Ferris

    American engineer and inventor of the Ferris Wheel

  • 1896 Edward Arthur Milne

    English astrophysicist (kinematic relativity)

  • 1898 Fritz Zwicky

    Swiss astronomer (supernova, dark matter)

  • 1878 Julius Nieuwland

    Belgian-American chemist and inventor of 1st synthetic rubber neoprene

  • 1936 Takuo Aoyagi

    Japanese engineer who invented the pulse oximeter

Deaths on This Day, February 14
  • 2000 Walter Zinn

    Canadian-American nuclear physicist and inventor of the breeder reactor

  • 1744 John Hadley

    English mathematician and inventor of octant

  • 1779 James Cook

    British navy officer explorer, navigator and cartographer, discovered and explored Australia, Pacific Islands and New Zealand for Britain

  • 1975 Julian S. Huxley

    English biologist and 1st director-general of UNESCO

  • 2003 Dolly the Sheep

    The female Finn-Dorset sheep and the first mammal that was cloned from an adult somatic cell

1946

ENIAC, World's First Electronic Digital Computer, Demonstrated

On February 14, 1946, the world's first electronic digital computer, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), was demonstrated at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert. ENIAC revolutionized computing technology, introducing electronic computing capabilities that laid the foundation for modern computers.
1859

Oregon Joins the Union as the 33rd State

On February 14, 1859, Oregon officially became the 33rd state of the United States. Located on the west coast, Oregon's admission marked an expansion of the Union during a period of westward expansion and settlement.
1903

United States Department of Commerce and Labor Established

The United States Department of Commerce and Labor was established on February 14, 1903. It combined two previously separate departments, aiming to promote economic growth and ensure fair labor practices, setting the stage for modern regulatory oversight in commerce and labor matters.
2005

YouTube Launches, Revolutionizing Online Video Sharing

Founded by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, YouTube launched on February 14, 2005, in San Bruno, California. It quickly became a pioneering platform for users to upload, share, and view video content globally, marking a significant shift in digital media consumption and social interaction online.
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