At A Glance

14 February 1959 at a glance

Day of the week
14 February 1959 was a Saturday.
UK Number One
The UK Number One single was “As I Love You” by Shirley Bassey.
Top Film of 1959
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1959 was Ben-Hur.
Star sign
The star sign for 14 February is Aquarius.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 14 February 1959 fell in the Year of the Pig.
Birthstone
The birthstone for February is Amethyst.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 14 February 1959 was Waxing Crescent.

On this day: 14 February

  • 1947 The act abolishing all noble ranks and related styles comes into force in Hungary.
  • 1949 The Knesset (parliament of Israel) convenes for the first time.
  • 1949 The Asbestos Strike begins in Canada. The strike marks the beginning of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec.
  • 1954 First Indochina War - small French garrison at Đắk Đoa is overrun by the Viet Minh after a week's siege.
  • 1961 Discovery of the chemical elements: Element 103, Lawrencium, is first synthesized at the University of California.

Famous people born on 14 February

  • Kevin Keegan, English footballer and manager (1951–2026)
  • Jimmy Hoffa, American trade union leader (1913–1975)
  • Freddie Highmore, English actor (born 1992)
  • Steve McNair, American football player (1973–2009)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1959 in the United Kingdom

A selection from Wikipedia's '1959 in the United Kingdom'. Not a complete list.

  • 7 May – Scientist and novelist C. P. Snow delivers an influential Rede Lecture on The Two Cultures, concerning a perceived breakdown of communication between the sciences and humanities, in the Senate House, University of Cambridge.
  • 28 May – The Mermaid Theatre opens in the City of London.
  • 1 June – The first episode of Juke Box Jury airs on BBC Television, chaired by David Jacobs.

Life in 1959

Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan

Monarch

Elizabeth II

Pint of Beer

10p

Loaf of Bread

7p

Average House

£2,530

Weekly Wage

£13.05

Or

Browse by Year

Famous Faces Born in the 1950s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →