1. Virginia Governor Thomas West, also known as Lord De La Warr, arrived on April 14, 1610, to assume the leadership of the Jamestown Colony. He is credited with stabilizing the struggling colony by imposing strict discipline and enforcing order.

2. The Virginia Convention assembled in Richmond on April 14, 1775, to appoint delegates to the Continental Congress and discuss Virginia's response to the growing conflict with Great Britain. This meeting marked a crucial turning point in the American Revolution, as Virginia emerged as a leader in the fight for independence.

3. On April 14, 1865, just five days after the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Virginia played a significant role in the Civil War and was deeply affected by Lincoln's death.

4. On April 14, 1925, a severe tornado struck the town of Riegelwood in southeastern North Carolina, just across the border from Virginia. The tornado, which had winds estimated at over 200 miles per hour, killed 22 people and destroyed the town's sawmill and much of its housing.

5. Major League Baseball player and Virginia native David Wright hit his first career home run on April 14, 2005, while playing for the New York Mets. Wright went on to become one of the best players in Mets history, earning seven All-Star selections and two Gold Glove awards over his 14-year career.