August 14

Minamoto no Yoriie became the second shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate in 1202, succeeding his father Minamoto no Yoritomo. His authority was curtailed by the Hōjō clan acting as regents, leading to factional conflicts. He attempted to assert his rule but was forced to abdicate in 1203 in favor of his brother, Sanetomo. Yoriie was confined to Shuzenji and ultimately poisoned in 1204, a result of court intrigue. His troubled tenure underscores the early years of military governance in Japan and the rise of regent power. He died on August 14, 1204, at a young age, his potential cut short by political machinations.

Saitō Tatsuoki became the head of the Saitō clan of Mino Province in 1561 at just thirteen years old. His inexperienced leadership and clan infighting eroded the domain’s stability. In 1567, he suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Oda Nobunaga during the siege of Inabayama Castle. Stripped of his territories, Tatsuoki fled and later allied with the Asakura clan in resistance. He met his end in 1573 at Chōkō-ji, dying in battle at twenty-five after years in exile. His fall exemplified the turbulent power struggles of Japan’s Sengoku period and Nobunaga’s rise.

Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, was an Irish Catholic nobleman and military commander born in 1630. He rose to prominence in the French army during the Franco-Dutch War before returning to serve James II. As Lord Deputy of Ireland, he sought to restore Catholic power and reorganize the Irish army. He led Jacobite forces in the Williamite War, including actions at the Siege of Limerick. Following the Jacobite defeat, he fled to France and died in exile shortly after the war’s end. Talbot’s legacy is marked by his unwavering loyalty, religious conviction, and controversial reforms. He passed away on August 14, 1691, leaving a complex imprint on Irish and British history.

David Farragut (1801–1870) was a pioneering officer in the United States Navy and became the service's first full admiral during the American Civil War. He is best remembered for his bold command at the Battle of Mobile Bay, where he famously declared, 'Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!' Farragut began his naval career during the War of 1812 and rose through the ranks with a reputation for courage and innovation. He captured New Orleans in 1862, a major strategic victory for the Union. After the war, he continued to modernize the Navy and advocate for steam-powered ships. Farragut's leadership and tactical brilliance made him an enduring symbol of American naval strength.