On This Day in History March 14 Historical Events King Henry IV of France at the Battle of Ivry 1590 Battle of Ivry: French King Henry IV defeats the Catholic League during the French Wars of Religion.  1794 Eli Whitney patents the cotton gin machine revolutionizing the cotton industry in the southern US states.  1900 Dutch botanist Hugo de Vries rediscovers Gregor Mendel's laws of heredity and genetics.  1900 US currency goes on the gold standard after Congress passes the Currency Act.  2013 Xi Jinping named the new President of the People's Republic of China.  More Historical Events  Famous Birthdays Albert Einstein 1879 - 1955 Frank Borman 1928 - 2023 Stephen Curry 36th Birthday Simone Biles 27th Birthday Also Michael Caine (91) and Quincy Jones Jr (91).  More Famous Birthdays  Famous Deaths Karl Marx 1818 - 1883 George Eastman 1854 - 1932 More Famous Deaths  Boy Wonder Conquers Theatreland Parliament was adjourned on this day so that MPs could grab their seats for a performance by Master Betty – the theatrical wonder of the age.  Master Betty – the Theatrical Wonder