So you want to have a drink but you aren't sure why? Here are some GREAT reasons to call your friends over and have a party.

August 14th


- Christian Feast Day:
- Independence Day, celebrates the day on which Pakistan was made an independent country based on border lines created by the British during the end of their rule of India in 1947. (Pakistan)
- Pramuka Day (Indonesia)

August 14th


- 2010 - 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games, first ever Youth Olympics, officially starts in Singapore.
- 2007 - The 2007 Kahtaniya bombings kills at least 796 people.
- 2006 - Chencholai bombing in which 61 Tamil girls are killed in Sri Lankan Airforce bombing.
- 2003 - Widescale power blackout in the northeast United States and Canada.
- 1994 - Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, also known as "Carlos the Jackal," is captured.
- 1987 - All the children held at Kia Lama, a rural property on Lake Eildon, Australia, run by the Santiniketan Park Association, are released after a police raid.
- 1980 - Lech Wa??sa leads strikes at the Gda?sk, Poland shipyards.
- 1976 - The Senegalese political party PAI-Rénovation is legally recognized. PAI-Rénovation thus becomes the third legal party in the country.
- 1973 - The constitution of 1973 comes into effect in Pakistan
- 1972 - An East German Ilyushin Il-62 crashes during takeoff from East Berlin, killing 156.
- 1969 - British troops are deployed in Northern Ireland.
- 1967 - UK Marine Broadcasting Offences Act declares participation in offshore pirate radio illegal.
- 1959 - Founding and first official meeting of the American Football League.
- 1948 - Don Bradman, widely regarded as the best cricket batsman in history, makes a duck in his final Test innings.
- 1947 - Pakistan gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.
- 1945 - Japan accepts the Allied terms of surrender in World War II and the Emperor records the Imperial Rescript on Surrender (August 15 in Japan standard time).
- 1941 - World War II – Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter of war stating postwar aims.
- 1937 - Chinese Air Force Day: The beginning of air-to-air combat of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II in general, when 6 Imperial Japanese Mitsubishi G3M bombers are shot down by the Nationalist Chinese Air Force while raiding Chinese air bases.
- 1936 - Rainey Bethea is hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky in the last public execution in the United States.
- 1935 - United States Social Security Act passes, creating a government pension system for the retired.
- 1933 - Loggers cause a forest fire in the Coast Range of Oregon, later known as the first forest fire of the Tillamook Burn. It is extinguished on September 5, after destroying 240,000 acres (970 km²).
- 1925 - The original Hetch Hetchy Moccasin Powerhouse is completed and goes on line.
- 1921 - Tannu Tuva, later Tuvinian People's Republic is established as a completely independent country (which is supported by Soviet Russia).
- 1912 - United States Marines invade Nicaragua to support the U.S.-backed government installed there after José Santos Zelaya had resigned three years earlier.
- 1911 - United States Senate leaders agree to rotate the office of President pro tempore of the Senate among leading candidates to fill the vacancy left by William P. Frye's death.
- 1908 - The first beauty contest is held in Folkestone, England.
- 1901 - The first claimed powered flight, by Gustave Whitehead in his Number 21.
- 1900 - A joint European-Japanese-United States force (Eight-Nation Alliance) occupies Beijing, in a campaign to end the bloody Boxer Rebellion in China.
- 1897 - The town of Anosimena is captured by French troops from Menabe defenders in Madagascar.
- 1893 - France introduces motor vehicle registration.
- 1888 - A recording of English composer Arthur Sullivan's The Lost Chord, one of the first recordings of music ever made, is played during a press conference introducing Thomas Edison's phonograph in London.
- 1885 - Japan's first patent is issued to the inventor of a rust-proof paint.
- 1880 - Construction of Cologne Cathedral, the most famous landmark in Cologne, Germany, is completed.
- 1848 - Oregon Territory is organized by act of Congress.
- 1846 - The Cape Girardeau meteorite, a 2.3 kg chondrite-type meteorite strikes near the town of Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
- 1842 - Indian Wars: Second Seminole War ends, with the Seminoles forced from Florida to Oklahoma.
- 1598 - Nine Years War: Battle of the Yellow Ford – Irish forces under Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, defeat an English expeditionary force under Henry Bagenal.
- 1592 - Imjin War: Battle of Hansando Admiral Yi Sun-sin decisively defeats the Japanese Navy at Hasan Island.
- 1385 - Portuguese Crisis of 1383–1385: Battle of Aljubarrota – Portuguese forces commanded by King João I and his general Nuno Álvares Pereira defeat the Castilian army of King Juan I.
- 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures and flee to western Japan to escape pursuit by the Minamoto clan. (Traditional Japanese date: Twenty-fifth Day of the Seventh Month of the Second Year of Juei).

August 14th


- 1990 - Jaydee Bixby, Canadian singer
- 1989 - Kyle Turris, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1988 - Shahd Barmada, Syrian singer
- 1987 - James Buckley, English actor
- 1987 - Tim Tebow, American football player and winner of 2007 Heisman trophy
- 1987 - Chrystina Sayers, American singer and dancer (Girlicious)
- 1986 - Terin Humphrey, American gymnast
- 1985 - Christian Gentner, German footballer
- 1985 - Shea Weber, Canadian hockey player
- 1984 - Clay Buchholz, American baseball player
- 1984 - Josh Gorges, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1984 - Nick Grimshaw, British radio DJ and television presenter
- 1984 - Robin Söderling, Swedish tennis player
- 1983 - Elena Baltacha, Ukrainian/British tennis player
- 1983 - Mila Kunis, Ukrainian/American actress
- 1983 - Leo Núñez, Dominican baseball player
- 1983 - Spencer Pratt,American socialite
- 1981 - Matthew Etherington, English footballer
- 1981 - Julius Jones, American football player
- 1981 - Kofi Kingston, Ghanaian professional wrestler
- 1980 - Estrella Morente, Spanish flamenco singer
- 1980 - Roy Williams, American football player
- 1979 - Paul Burgess, Australian athlete
- 1979 - Yoichiro Morikawa, Japanese film director
- 1978 - Anastasios Kyriakos, Greek footballer
- 1978 - Kate Ritchie, Australian actress
- 1978 - Greg Rawlinson, New Zealand All Black rugby player
- 1977 - Juan Pierre, American baseball player
- 1976 - Steve Braun, Canadian actor
- 1976 - Alex Albrecht, American actor
- 1976 - Maya Nasri, Lebanese actress and singer
- 1975 - Mike Vrabel, American football player
- 1974 - Chucky Atkins, American basketball player
- 1974 - Martin Bulloch, Scottish musician (Mogwai)
- 1974 - Christopher Gorham, American actor
- 1974 - Ana Matronic, American singer (Scissor Sisters)
- 1973 - Jared Borgetti, Mexican footballer
- 1973 - Daisuke Ishiwatari, Japanese game developer and composer
- 1973 - Jay-Jay Okocha, Nigerian footballer
- 1973 - Kieren Perkins, Australian swimmer
- 1972 - Jay Manuel, Canadian make-up artist
- 1972 - Yu Jae-seok, South Korean entertainer
- 1971 - Raoul Bova, Italian actor
- 1971 - Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Sri Lankan cricketer
- 1969 - Tracy Caldwell, American astronaut
- 1969 - DJ Uncle Al, American hip-hop DJ (d. 2001)
- 1969 - Stig Tøfting, Danish footballer
- 1968 - Catherine Bell, American actress
- 1968 - Darren Clarke, Northern Irish golfer
- 1968 - Adrian Lester, British actor
- 1968 - Billy Mavreas, Greek-Canadian cartoonist
- 1968 - Pravin Amre, Indian cricketer
- 1966 - Halle Berry, American actress
- 1966 - Karl Petter Løken, Norwegian footballer
- 1965 - Emmanuelle Béart, French actress
- 1965 - Brannon Braga, writer and executive producer of 24, Star Trek, and FlashForward
- 1964 - Neal Anderson, American football player
- 1962 - Mark Gubicza, American baseball player
- 1962 - Rameez Raja, Pakistani cricketer
- 1961 - Susan Olsen, American actress
- 1961 - "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert, American wrestler (d. 1995)
- 1960 - Fred Roberts, Basketball player
- 1960 - Sarah Brightman, British soprano
- 1960 - Cecilia Gasdia, Italian soprano
- 1959 - Marcia Gay Harden, American actress
- 1959 - Magic Johnson, American basketball player
- 1959 - Frank Brickowski, American basketball player
- 1958 - Bobby Eaton, American professional wrestler
- 1957 - Peter Costello, Australian politician
- 1957 - Gino Hernandez, American professional wrestler (d. 1986)
- 1956 - Jackée Harry, American actress
- 1956 - Andy King, English footballer
- 1956 - Johnny Lever, Indian actor
- 1956 - Rusty Wallace, American race car driver
- 1954 - Mark Fidrych, American baseball player (d. 2009)
- 1954 - Stanley McChrystal, American general
- 1953 - James Horner, American composer
- 1953 - Cliff Johnson, American computer game author
- 1952 - Carl Lumbly, American actor
- 1952 - Debbie Meyer, American swimmer
- 1951 - Peter Blegvad, American musician (Slapp Happy)
- 1950 - Gary Larson, American cartoonist (The Far Side)
- 1949 - Bob Backlund, American wrestler
- 1949 - Morten Olsen, Danish footballer
- 1948 - Terry Adams, American musician (NRBQ)
- 1947 - Peter Christian, British actor
- 1947 - Bruce Nash, American television producer
- 1947 - Maddy Prior, British folk singer
- 1947 - Danielle Steel, American novelist
- 1947 - Jiro Taniguchi, Japanese manga artist
- 1946 - Antonio Fargas, American actor
- 1946 - Susan Saint James, American actress
- 1946 - Larry Graham, American musician
- 1945 - Steve Martin, American actor and comedian
- 1945 - Wim Wenders, German-born film director
- 1942 - Jackie Oliver, British Formula One driver
- 1941 - David Crosby, American musician
- 1941 - Connie Smith, American singer
- 1940 - Dash Crofts, American musician
- 1940 - Galen Hall, American football coach
- 1936 - Trevor Bannister, British actor
- 1935 - John Brodie, American football player
- 1933 - Richard R. Ernst, Swiss chemist and Nobel Prize Laureate
- 1932 - Lee Hoffman, American author (d. 2007)
- 1930 - Earl Weaver, American baseball manager
- 1929 - Dick Tiger, Nigerian boxer (d. 1971)
- 1926 - Alice Ghostley, American actress (d. 2007)
- 1926 - René Goscinny, French comic-strip author (d. 1977)
- 1926 - Lina Wertmüller, Italian film director
- 1925 - Russell Baker, American columnist
- 1924 - Georges Prêtre, French conductor
- 1924 - Holger Juul Hansen, Danish actor
- 1924 - Sverre Fehn, Norwegian architect (d. 2009)
- 1924 - Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa Lama, Tibetan religious figure (d. 1981)
- 1916 - Fumio Fujimura, Japanese baseball player (d. 1992)
- 1916 - Wellington Mara, Co-Owner of the New York Giants (d. 2005)
- 1915 - B.A. Santamaria, Australian political activist and journalist (d. 1998)
- 1913 - Paul Dean, American baseball player (d. 1981)
- 1910 - Pierre Schaeffer, French composer (d. 1995)
- 1910 - Willy Ronis, French photographer (d. 2009)
- 1908 - Manos Katrakis, Greek actor (d. 1984)
- 1901 - Alice Rivaz, Swiss writer (d. 1998)
- 1895 - Jack Gregory, Australian cricketer (d. 1973)
- 1892 - Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, English composer and pianist (d. 1988)
- 1882 - Gisela Richter, British-born art historian (d. 1972)
- 1881 - Francis Ford, American actor (d. 1953)
- 1876 - Aleksandar Obrenovi?, King of Serbia (d. 1903)
- 1871 - Guangxu Emperor, Qing Emperor of China (d. 1908)
- 1867 - John Galsworthy, Nobel Prize Laureate (d. 1933)
- 1867 - Cupid Childs, American baseball player (d. 1912)
- 1866 - Charles Jean de la Vallée-Poussin, Belgian mathematician (d. 1962)
- 1865 - Guido Castelnuovo, Italian mathematician (d. 1952)
- 1863 - Ernest Thayer, American poet (d. 1940)
- 1857 - Max Wagenknecht, German composer (d. 1922)
- 1851 - Doc Holliday, American gambler and dentist (d. 1887)
- 1847 - Robert Comtesse, member of the Swiss Federal Council (d. 1922)
- 1840 - Richard von Krafft-Ebing, German psychologist (d. 1902)
- 1817 - Alexander H. Bailey, American politician (d. 1874)
- 1777 - Francis I of the Two Sicilies (d. 1830)
- 1777 - Hans Christian Ørsted, Danish physicist (d. 1851)
- 1774 - Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Indian freedom fighter and social reformer (d. 1833)
- 1758 - Antoine Charles Horace Vernet, French painter (d. 1835)
- 1740 - Pope Pius VII (d. 1823)
- 1727 - Princess Marie Louise Élisabeth of France, daughter of king Louis XV (d. 1759)
- 1727 - Princess Anne Henriette of France, daughter of king Louis XV (d. 1752)
- 1714 - Claude Joseph Vernet, French painter (d. 1789)
- 1688 - Frederick William I of Prussia (d. 1740)
- 1653 - Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, English statesman (d. 1688)
- 1642 - Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (d. 1723)
- 1625 - François de Harlay de Champvallon, Archbishop of Paris (d. 1695)
- 1599 - Méric Casaubon, English classical scholar (d. 1671)
- 1586 - William Hutchinson, Rhode Island colonist (d. 1642)
- 1575 - Robert Hayman, English-born poet (d. 1629)
- 1479 - Princess Catherine of York (d. 1527)
- 1473 - Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury, daughter of George, Duke of Clarence (d. 1541)
- 1297 - Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Japan (d. 1348)