On This Day — April 12

Famous events, births, and deaths from April 12 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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40 events · 248 births · 93 deaths recorded for April 12.

🕰️ Notable Events on April 12

2017 — Zuma Must Fall protests resume in South Africa, with Julius Malema addressing large crowds in Pretoria.[1] Wikipedia ↗
2014 — The Great Fire of Valparaíso ravages the Chilean city of Valparaíso, killing 16, displacing nearly 10,000, and destroying over 2,000 homes. Wikipedia ↗
2013 — Two suicide bombers kill three Chadian soldiers and injure dozens of civilians at a market in Kidal, Mali. Wikipedia ↗
2009 — Zimbabwe officially abandons the Zimbabwean dollar as its official currency. Wikipedia ↗
2007 — A suicide bomber penetrates the Green Zone and detonates in a cafeteria within a parliament building, killing Iraqi MP Mohammed Awad and wounding more than twenty other people. Wikipedia ↗
2002 — A suicide bomber blows herself up at the entrance to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda Market, killing seven people and wounding 104. Wikipedia ↗
1999 — United States President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving "intentionally false statements" in a civil lawsuit; he is later fined and disbarred. Wikipedia ↗
1992 — The Euro Disney Resort officially opens with its theme park Euro Disneyland; the resort and its park's name are subsequently changed to Disneyland Paris. Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Jim Gary's "Twentieth Century Dinosaurs" exhibition opens at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. He is the only sculptor ever invited to present a solo exhibition there. Wikipedia ↗
1981 — The first launch of a Space Shuttle (Columbia) takes place: The STS-1 mission. Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Samuel Doe takes control of Liberia in a coup d'état, ending over 130 years of minority Americo-Liberian rule over the country. Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Soviet submarine K-8, carrying four nuclear torpedoes, sinks in the Bay of Biscay four days after a fire on board. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — The Soviet nuclear-powered submarine K-33 collides with the Finnish merchant vessel M/S Finnclipper in the Danish straits. Wikipedia ↗
1961 — The Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to travel into outer space and perform the first manned orbital flight, Vostok 1. Wikipedia ↗
1955 — The polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, is declared safe and effective. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office; Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes President upon Roosevelt's death. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — The U.S. Ninth Army under General William H. Simpson crosses the Elbe River astride Magdeburg, and reached Tangermünde—only 50 miles from Berlin. Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Sir Frank Whittle ground-tests the first jet engine designed to power an aircraft, at Rugby, England. Wikipedia ↗
1934 — The strongest surface wind gust in the world at the time of 231 mph, is measured on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire. It has since been surpassed. Wikipedia ↗
1934 — The U.S. Auto-Lite strike begins, culminating in a five-day melee between Ohio National Guard troops and 6,000 strikers and picketers. Wikipedia ↗
1928 — The Bremen, a German Junkers W 33 type aircraft, takes off for the first successful transatlantic aeroplane flight from east to west. Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Shanghai massacre of 1927: Chiang Kai-shek orders the Communist Party of China members executed in Shanghai, ending the First United Front. Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Rocksprings, Texas was hit by an F5 tornado that destroyed 235 of the 247 buildings in the town and killed 72 townspeople and injured 205; third deadliest tornado in Texas history. Wikipedia ↗
1917 — World War I: Canadian forces successfully complete the taking of Vimy Ridge from the Germans. Wikipedia ↗
1910 — SMS Zrínyi, one of the last pre-dreadnought battleships built by the Austro-Hungarian Navy, is launched. Wikipedia ↗
1877 — The United Kingdom annexes the Transvaal. Wikipedia ↗
1865 — American Civil War: Mobile, Alabama, falls to the Union Army. Wikipedia ↗
1864 — American Civil War: The Battle of Fort Pillow: Confederate forces kill most of the African American soldiers that surrendered at Fort Pillow, Tennessee. Wikipedia ↗
1862 — American Civil War: The Andrews Raid (the Great Locomotive Chase) occurs, starting from Big Shanty, Georgia (now Kennesaw). Wikipedia ↗
1861 — American Civil War: Battle of Fort Sumter. The war begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Wikipedia ↗
1831 — Soldiers marching on the Broughton Suspension Bridge in Manchester, England cause it to collapse. Wikipedia ↗
1820 — Alexander Ypsilantis is declared leader of Filiki Eteria, a secret organization to overthrow Ottoman rule over Greece. Wikipedia ↗
1807 — The Froberg mutiny ends when the remaining mutineers blow up the magazine of Fort Ricasoli. Wikipedia ↗
1776 — American Revolution: With the Halifax Resolves, the North Carolina Provincial Congress authorizes its Congressional delegation to vote for independence from Britain. Wikipedia ↗
1606 — The Union Flag is adopted as the flag of English and Scottish ships. Wikipedia ↗
1204 — The Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade breach the walls of Constantinople and enter the city, which they completely occupy the following day. Wikipedia ↗
1167 — King Karl Sverkersson of Sweden is murdered on Visingsö. Wikipedia ↗
627 — King Edwin of Northumbria is converted to Christianity by Paulinus, bishop of York. Wikipedia ↗
467 — Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Wikipedia ↗
238 — Gordian II loses the Battle of Carthage against the Numidian forces loyal to Maximinus Thrax and is killed. Gordian I, his father, commits suicide. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on April 12

1996 — Elizaveta Kulichkova, Russian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1995 — Brenda Villa, Mexican Lawyer Wikipedia ↗
1995 — Pedro Cachín, Argentine tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Isabelle Drummond, Brazilian actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Saoirse Ronan, American-born Irish actress Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Oh Sehun, South Korean musician Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Eric Bailly, Ivorian professional footballer Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Guido Rodríguez, Argentine footballer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Jordan Archer, English-Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Dorial Green-Beckham, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Chad le Clos, South African swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Torey Krug, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Oliver Norwood, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Magnus Pääjärvi, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Jazz Richards, Welsh footballer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Lionel Carole, French professional footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Francesca Halsall, English swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Hiroki Sakai, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Bethan Dainton, Welsh rugby union player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Miguel Ángel Ponce, American-Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Ádám Hanga, Hungarian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Kaitlyn Weaver, Canadian-American ice dancer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Valentin Stocker, Swiss footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Ricardo Gabriel Álvarez, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Stephen Brogan, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Amedeo Calliari, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Jessie James Decker, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Brooklyn Decker, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Shawn Gore, Canadian football player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Josh McCrone, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Luiz Adriano, Brazilian professional footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Brendon Urie, American singer, songwriter, musician and multi-instrumentalist Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Brad Brach, American baseball pitcher Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Blerim Džemaili, Swiss footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Marcel Granollers, Spanish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Jonathan Pitroipa, Burkinabé footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Brennan Boesch, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Hitomi Yoshizawa, Japanese singer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Aleksey Dmitrik, Russian high jumper Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Jelena Dokic, Serbian-Australian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Luke Kibet, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Russian runner Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Nicolás Burdisso, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Grant Holt, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Hisashi Iwakuma, Japanese baseball pitcher Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Brian Vandborg, Danish cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Sara Head, Welsh Paralympic table tennis champion Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Brian McFadden, Irish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Claire Danes, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Elena Grosheva, Russian gymnast Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Jennifer Morrison, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Cristian Ranalli, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Lee Soo-young, South Korean singer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Guy Berryman, Scottish bass player and producer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Scott Crary, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Svetlana Lapina, Russian high jumper Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Robin Walker, English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Giovanny Espinoza, Ecuadorian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Sarah Monahan, Australian actress Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Jason Price, Welsh footballer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Glenn Rogers, Australian-Scottish cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Olga Kotlyarova, Russian runner Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Brad Miller, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Belinda Emmett, Australian actress (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Bryan Fletcher, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Roman Hamrlík, Czech ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Marley Shelton, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Sylvinho, Brazilian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1973 — J. Scott Campbell, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Ryan Kisor, American trumpet player and composer Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Antonio Osuna, Mexican-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Paul Lo Duca, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Nicholas Brendon, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Shannen Doherty, American actress, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Sylvain Bouchard, Canadian speed skater Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Jörn Lenz, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Lucas Radebe, South African footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Michael Jackson, American football player and politician (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Alicia Coppola, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Toby Gad, German songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Adam Graves, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Sarah Cracknell, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Nils-Olav Johansen, Norwegian guitarist and singer Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Lorenzo White, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Kim Bodnia, Danish actor and director Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Chi Onwurah, English politician Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Gervais Rufyikiri, Burundian politician Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Mihai Stoica, Romanian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Amy Ray, American folk-rock singer-songwriter, musician, and music producer Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Lydia Cacho, Mexican journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Art Alexakis, American singer-songwriter and musician (Everclear) Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Carlos Sainz, Spanish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Nobuhiko Takada, Japanese mixed martial artist and wrestler, founded Hustle Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Corrado Fabi, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Charles Mann, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Magda Szubanski, English-Australian actress, comedian and writer Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Howard Stableford, English radio and television host Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Will Sergeant, English guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Klaus Tafelmeier, German javelin thrower Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Ginka Zagorcheva, Bulgarian hurdler Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Greg Child, Australian mountaineer and author Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Vince Gill, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Tama Janowitz, American novelist and short story writer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Andy Garcia, Cuban-American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Herbert Grönemeyer, German singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Fabian Hamilton, English graphic designer, engineer, and politician Wikipedia ↗
1954 — John Faulkner, Australian educator and politician, 52nd Australian Minister for Defence Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Steve Stevaert, Belgian businessman and politician, Governor of Limburg (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Pat Travers, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Tanino Liberatore, Italian author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Reuben Gant, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Leicester Rutledge, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Gary Soto, American poet, novelist, and memoirist Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Ralph Wiley, American journalist (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Tom Noonan, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Flavio Briatore, Italian businessman Wikipedia ↗
1950 — David Cassidy, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Nick Sackman, English composer and educator Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Scott Turow, American lawyer and author Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Jeremy Beadle, English television host and producer (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Joschka Fischer, German academic and politician, Vice Chancellor of Germany Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Marcello Lippi, Italian footballer, manager, and coach Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Roy M. Anderson, English epidemiologist, zoologist, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Martin Brasier, English palaeontologist, biologist, and academic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Alex Briley, American disco singer (Village People) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Tom Clancy, American historian and author (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Woody Johnson, American businessman and philanthropist Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Dan Lauria, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1947 — David Letterman, American comedian and talk show host Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Ed O'Neill, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
1946 — George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, Scottish politician and diplomat, 10th Secretary General of NATO Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Lee Jong-wook, South Korean physician and diplomat (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Lisa Jardine, English historian, author, and academic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — John Kay, German-Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Sumitra Mahajan, Indian politician, 16th Speaker of the Lok Sabha Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Bill Bryden, Scottish actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Carlos Reutemann, Argentinian race car driver and politician, Governor of Santa Fe Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Jacob Zuma, South African politician, 4th President of South Africa Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Bobby Moore, English footballer and manager (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Woodie Fryman, American baseball player (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Herbie Hancock, American pianist, composer, and bandleader Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Alan Ayckbourn, English director and playwright Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Johnny Raper, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Dennis Banks, American author and activist Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Igor Volk, Ukrainian-Russian colonel, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Charles Napier, American actor (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Kennedy Simmonds, Kittitian politician, 4th Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Heinz Schneiter, Swiss footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Montserrat Caballé, Spanish soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lankan lawyer and politician, 5th Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Jean-Pierre Marielle, French actor Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Tiny Tim, American singer and ukulele player (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Leonid Derbenyov, Russian poet and songwriter (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Bryan Magee, English philosopher and politician Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Manuel Neri, American sculptor and painter Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Michał Życzkowski, Polish technician and educator (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — John Landy, Australian runner and politician, 26th Governor of Victoria Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Elspet Gray, Scottish actress (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗