1. On May 14, 1607, Captain John Smith and a group of explorers set sail from England to establish the first permanent English settlement in North America, which would eventually become Jamestown, Virginia.

2. On May 14, 1636, the Massachusetts Bay Colony authorized the establishment of Harvard College, which is now one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world.

3. On May 14, 1787, the Massachusetts state legislature ratified the United States Constitution, which laid the foundation for the country's government and laws.

4. On May 14, 1874, Massachusetts became the first state to establish a statewide Board of Health, which helped to improve public health and sanitation throughout the state.

5. On May 14, 1943, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was officially designated as a university, cementing its reputation as one of the world's leading institutions of higher learning in the fields of science, engineering, and technology.