On this Day in History: July 14

In 2016, the Nice Truck attack takes place

Α terrorist drove a truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France, on July 14, killing 86 people and injuring 458. The attack occurred on the Promenade des Anglais during a fireworks display. The perpetrator, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, was later shot and killed by police.

In 2013, the world’s last telegram is sent

Τhe state-owned Indian telecommunications company BSNL sent the last telegram, ending a 163-year-old service. The advent of modern communication technologies like email and instant messaging led to the decline of telegram usage. This marked the end of an era in global communication.

In 1965, Mariner 4 flies by Mars

NASA’s Mariner 4 spacecraft made the first successful flyby of Mars, sending back the first close-up images of the Martian surface. The mission provided the first detailed data on the atmosphere and surface of Mars, showing a barren landscape with impact craters.

In 1957, the first female parliamentarian in the Arab world is elected to office

Rawya Ateya became the first woman elected to parliament in the Arab world, representing Egypt. Her election was a significant milestone for women’s rights in the region. Ateya was a strong advocate for women’s issues and social justice throughout her political career.

In 1881, American gunfighter Billy the Kid is killed

Τhe infamous outlaw was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty, was a legendary figure of the American Old West, known for his role in the Lincoln County War and his numerous escapes from law enforcement.

In 1789, Bastille is stormed by Paris mob

Α mob of Parisian revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny, on July 14, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. The fall of the Bastille became a powerful symbol of the people’s uprising against oppression. Bastille Day is now celebrated annually in France as a national holiday.