April 14

Born in 1275 into an established baronial family, Badlesmere gained military recognition during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He was appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1312, overseeing vital coastal defenses. Badlesmere also held significant political influence at the English court. In 1321, he joined the Marcher Lords in rebellion against King Edward II. Captured and executed for treason, he died on 14 April 1322. His life exemplifies the turbulent intersection of military service and noble ambition in medieval England.

John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu (1431–1471) was an English nobleman and military leader during the Wars of the Roses. He was the younger brother of Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, and supported the Yorkist cause in key battles. Elevated to the title of Marquess of Montagu in 1470, he held significant estates in northern England. During the Readeption of Henry VI, he briefly switched allegiances alongside his brother, only to return to Edward IV's side. He was killed at the Battle of Barnet in 1471, leaving behind a legacy of shifting loyalties typical of 15th-century English nobility.

Girolamo Riario (1443–1488) was an Italian condottiero and nobleman who ruled Imola and Forlì. As nephew to Pope Sixtus IV, he secured his territories through papal support and built formidable fortifications. He played a central role in the Pazzi conspiracy against the Medici family in Florence. Riario's rule combined artistic patronage with ruthless suppression of local revolts. In 1488, he was assassinated by a faction opposed to his authority, marking the violent politics of Renaissance Italy.

Louis of Nassau (1538–1574) was a pioneering leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Brother to William the Silent, he commanded rebel forces to victory at the Battles of Heiligerlee and Jemmingen. Appointed Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe, he organized provincial governments in defiance of Spain. His charismatic leadership rallied support for Protestantism and independence in the Low Countries. At the Battle of Mookerheyde in 1574, he suffered defeat and was killed, becoming a martyr for the Dutch cause. His efforts laid the groundwork for the eventual independence of the Netherlands.

James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell (1534–1578) was a powerful Scottish noble and naval commander. He gained influence at the court of Mary, Queen of Scots, before becoming her third husband. Bothwell's marriage to the queen followed the mysterious death of her second husband, Lord Darnley, sparking scandal. Elevated to Duke of Orkney, he exercised significant political control, but faced accusations of regicide. After Mary's forced abdication, Bothwell fled Scotland and was later imprisoned in Denmark, where he died. His life remains central to the controversies surrounding Mary's reign and the fate of the Scottish crown.

Born in 1907 to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Yakov had a turbulent relationship with his father. He joined the Red Army and fought on the Eastern Front during World War II. In 1941, Yakov was captured by German forces and held as a prisoner of war. Stalin reportedly refused a prisoner exchange, leading to Yakov's tragic end in 1943. His death remains a somber footnote in the history of the Soviet Union. Yakov's life highlights the personal costs of political and military conflict.

Born in 1940, Mick Staton served as an officer in the U.S. Army before entering the business world. He was elected to Congress in 1980 and represented West Virginia's 3rd district from 1981 to 1983. During his term, he advocated for veterans' benefits and economic development in his state. After leaving office, he remained active in community service and veterans' organizations. He passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy of public service and dedication to his constituents.