September 14

Calendar details

The day’s numbering depends on whether the year is a leap year; see leap year conventions for how February 29 affects ordinal day counts. The date is part of the system used by the Gregorian calendar, the civil calendar used by most of the world.

Notable historical events

• 1814: The bombardment of Fort McHenry by British forces during the War of 1812 took place on September 13–14, an action that inspired the poem later set to music as the U.S. national anthem.
• 1901: U.S. President William McKinley died on September 14 after being shot a week earlier; Vice President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him as president.
• Other years have seen military actions, political milestones and scientific achievements on or around this date; histories vary by country and era.

Observances and religion

September 14 is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in many Christian traditions, commemorating the cross as a symbol of Christ’s passion. In India, September 14 is observed as Hindi Diwas, marking the adoption of Hindi in the Devanagari script as an official language. Other local or national commemorations also occur on this date.

Births and deaths (selection)

A number of notable public figures have been born or died on September 14; for example, birth control activist Margaret Sanger was born on this date in 1879, and President William McKinley died on September 14, 1901. Lists of births and deaths for the date are maintained in calendars and biographical reference works.

Significance and modern use

The date is used as a marker in annual calendars for festivals, anniversaries and seasonal planning. It often appears in cultural almanacs and is a convenient reference for historians and the public when tracing events tied to late-summer timing.