1. Birthday of John Sevier - January 14 marks the birthday of John Sevier, a Revolutionary War hero and the first governor of Tennessee. Sevier was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1745 and played a pivotal role in the development of the western United States.

2. North Carolina Joins the Confederacy - On January 14, 1861, North Carolina became the fifth state to secede from the United States and join the Confederate States of America. The decision was controversial, as many North Carolinians were opposed to secession, and the state did not formally join the Confederacy until after the attack on Fort Sumter.

3. First Successful Flight with a Jet-Powered Aircraft - On January 14, 1942, North Carolina's Richard Pearse flew his jet-powered airplane, dubbed the "Sky Rocket," for the first time. While Pearse's flight was not as famous as the Wright Brothers' first flight a few years earlier, it demonstrated the potential of jet propulsion and paved the way for future developments in aviation.

4. Pinehurst No. 2 Golf Course Opens - Pinehurst No. 2, one of North Carolina's most famous golf courses, opened for play on January 14, 1907. The course, which was designed by Donald Ross, has hosted several major tournaments, including the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship.

5. First African-American Woman Elected to a Statewide Office - On January 14, 1993, North Carolina's Beverly Perdue was sworn in as the state's first female lieutenant governor and the first African-American woman elected to a statewide office in the South. Perdue went on to serve as governor of North Carolina from 2009 to 2013.