On This Day — August 12

🕰️ Notable Events on August 12

• 2015 — At least two massive explosions kill 173 people and injure nearly 800 more in Tianjin, China. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — The Russian Navy submarine Kursk explodes and sinks in the Barents Sea during a military exercise, killing her entire 118-man crew. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Major League Baseball players go on strike, forcing the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Canada, Mexico and the United States announce completion of negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton found to date, is discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota. Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashes into Osutaka ridge in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, killing 520, to become the worst single-plane air disaster. Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — The IBM Personal Computer is released. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — The Sri Lanka Riots:, targeting the minority Sri Lankan Tamils, begin, less than a month after the United National Party came to power. Over 300 Tamils are killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Between 1,000 and 3,500 Palestinians are killed in the Tel al-Zaatar massacre, one of the bloodiest events of the Lebanese Civil War Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Violence erupts after the Apprentice Boys of Derry march in Derry, Northern Ireland, resulting in a three-day communal riot known as the Battle of the Bogside. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — South Africa is banned from the Olympic Games due to the country's racist policies. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Echo 1A, NASA's first successful communications satellite, is launched. Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — The first testing of a real thermonuclear weapon (not test devices): The Soviet atomic bomb project continues with the detonation of "RDS-6s" (Joe 4), the first Soviet thermonuclear bomb. Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — The 7.2 Ms Ionian earthquake shakes the southern Ionian Islands with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). Between 445 and 800 people were killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — The Night of the Murdered Poets: Thirteen prominent Jewish intellectuals are murdered in Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union. Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Korean War: Bloody Gulch massacre: American POWs are massacred by North Korean Army. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Waffen-SS troops massacre 560 people in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Nazi German troops end the week-long Wola massacre, during which time at least 40,000 people were killed indiscriminately or in mass executions. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Alençon is liberated by General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the first city in France to be liberated from the Nazis by French forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — World War I: The United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary; the countries of the British Empire follow suit. Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — World War I: The Battle of Halen a.k.a. Battle of the Silver Helmets a clash between large Belgian and German cavalry formations at Halen, Belgium. Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — The Hawaiian flag is lowered from ʻIolani Palace in an elaborate annexation ceremony and replaced with the flag of the United States to signify the transfer of sovereignty from the Republic of Hawaii to the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1883 — The last quagga dies at the Natura Artis Magistra, a zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — Joseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs 1st antiseptic surgery. Wikipedia ↗
• 1851 — Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine. Wikipedia ↗
• 1831 — French intervention forces William I of the Netherlands to abandon his attempt to suppress the Belgian Revolution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1806 — Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina after the first British invasion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1793 — The Rhône and Loire départments are created when the former département of Rhône-et-Loire is split into two. Wikipedia ↗
• 1765 — Treaty of Allahabad is signed. The Treaty marks the political and constitutional involvement and the beginning of Company rule in India. Wikipedia ↗
• 1687 — Battle of Mohács: Charles of Lorraine defeats the Ottoman Empire. Wikipedia ↗
• 1676 — Praying Indian John Alderman shoots and kills Metacomet, the Wampanoag war chief, ending King Philip's War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1624 — The president of Louis XIII of France's royal council is arrested, leaving Cardinal Richelieu in the role of the King's principal minister. Wikipedia ↗
• 1499 — First engagement of the Battle of Zonchio between Venetian and Ottoman fleets. Wikipedia ↗
• 1492 — Christopher Columbus arrives in the Canary Islands on his first voyage to the New World. Wikipedia ↗
• 1323 — Signature of the Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and Novgorod Republic, that regulates the border between the two countries for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1164 — Battle of Harim: Nur ad-Din Zangi defeats the Crusader armies of the County of Tripoli and the Principality of Antioch. Wikipedia ↗
• 1121 — Battle of Didgori: The Georgian army under King David IV wins a decisive victory over the famous Seljuk commander Ilghazi. Wikipedia ↗
• 1099 — First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on August 12

• 1999 — Matthijs de Ligt, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Julio Urías, Mexican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Ewa Farna, Czech singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Cara Delevingne, English model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Isabella Escobar, Guatemalan tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Jacob Loko, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Teo Gheorghiu, Swiss pianist and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Jesinta Campbell, Australian model Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Sam Hoare, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Mario Balotelli, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Marvin Zeegelaar, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Martin Zurawsky, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Tom Cleverley, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Hong Jeong-ho, South Korean footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Tyson Fury, English boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Matt Gillett, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Vanessa Watts, West Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Andrei Agius, Maltese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Kyle Arrington, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Danny Graham, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Franck Moutsinga, German rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Bryan Pata, American football player (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Kléber Giacomance de Souza Freitas, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Manoa Vosawai, Italian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Boban Grnčarov, Macedonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Alexandros Tzorvas, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Tony Capaldi, Norwegian-Northern Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Djibril Cissé, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Javier Chevantón, Uruguayan footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Maggie Lawson, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Dominique Swain, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Matt Thiessen, Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — D. J. Houlton, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Ian Hutchinson, English motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Cindy Klassen, Canadian speed skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Austra Skujytė, Lithuanian pentathlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Chris Chambers, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Hayley Wickenheiser, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Plaxico Burress, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Jesper Grønkjær, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Pedro Collins, Barbadian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Mikko Lindström, Finnish guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Henry Tuilagi, Samoan rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Antoine Walker, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Casey Affleck, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Matt Clement, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Karl Stefanovic, Australian television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Jonathan Coachman, American basketball player, wrestler, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Todd Marchant, American ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Demir Demirkan, Turkish singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Mark Kinsella, Irish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Takanohana Kōji, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 65th Yokozuna Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Gyanendra Pandey, Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Michael Ian Black, American comedian, actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Rebecca Gayheart, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Pete Sampras, American tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Aleksandar Đurić, Bosnian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Charles Mesure, English-Australian actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Toby Perkins, English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Jim Schlossnagle, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Anthony Swofford, American soldier and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Aga Muhlach, Filipino actor and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Stuart Williams, Nevisian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Thorsten Boer, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Ülar Mark, Estonian architect Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Andy Hui, Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Andrey Plotnikov, Russian race walker Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Regilio Tuur, Dutch boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Tobias Ellwood, American-English captain and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Peter Krause, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Michael Hagan, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Kōji Kitao, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 60th Yokozuna Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Campbell Newman, Australian politician, 38th Premier of Queensland Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Sir Mix-a-Lot, American rapper, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Roy Hay, English guitarist, keyboard player, and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Mark Priest, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Laurent Fignon, French cyclist and sportscaster (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Greg Thomas, Welsh-English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Kerry Boustead, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Amanda Redman, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Jürgen Dehmel, German bass player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Friedhelm Schütte, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Lee Freedman, Australian horse trainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Bruce Greenwood, Canadian actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Sidath Wettimuny, Sri Lankan cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Rob Borbidge, Australian politician, 35th Premier of Queensland Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong businessman and politician, 3rd Chief Executive of Hong Kong Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Ibolya Dávid, Hungarian lawyer and politician, Minister of Justice of Hungary Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — François Hollande, French lawyer and politician, 24th President of France Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Pat Metheny, American jazz guitarist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Daniel Biles, American associate justice of the Kansas Supreme Court Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Klaus Toppmöller, German football manager and former player Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Jim Beaver, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — August "Kid Creole" Darnell, American musician, bandleader, singer-songwriter, and record producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Panagiotis Chinofotis, Greek admiral and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Mark Knopfler, Scottish-English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Lou Martin, Northern Irish pianist, songwriter, and producer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Alex Naumik, Lithuanian-Norwegian singer-songwriter and producer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Rick Ridgeway, American mountaineer and photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Siddaramaiah, Indian lawyer and politician, 22nd Chief Minister of Karnataka Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Graham J. Zellick, English academic and jurist Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Terry Nutkins, English television host and author (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Dorothy E. Denning, American computer scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Ron Mael, American keyboard player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, German physician and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — L. M. Kit Carson, American actor, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Réjean Ducharme, Canadian author and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Dana Ivey, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Eddie Barlow, South African cricketer and coach (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — George Hamilton, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Pam Kilborn, Australian track and field athlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — David King, South African chemist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Sushil Koirala, Nepalese politician, 37th Prime Minister of Nepal (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Roy Romanow, Canadian lawyer and politician, 12th Premier of Saskatchewan Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Jean-Paul L'Allier, Canadian journalist and politician, 38th Mayor of Quebec City (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Walter Dean Myers, American author and poet (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Kjell Grede, Swedish director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — John Cazale, American actor (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Robin Nicholson, English metallurgist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Parnelli Jones, American race car driver and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Frederic Lindsay, Scottish author and educator (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Dallin H. Oaks, American lawyer, jurist, and religious leader Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Charlie O'Donnell, American radio and television announcer (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Sirikit, Queen mother of Thailand Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — William Goldman, American author, playwright, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — George Soros, Hungarian-American businessman and investor, founded the Soros Fund Management Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Kanagaratnam Sriskandan, Sri Lankan engineer and civil servant (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Jacques Tits, Belgian-French mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Buck Owens, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Charles Blackman, Australian painter and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Bob Buhl, American baseball player (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Dan Curtis, American director and producer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Porter Wagoner, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — John Derek, American actor, director, and cinematographer (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Joe Jones, American R&B singer-songwriter and producer (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Dale Bumpers, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 38th Governor of Arkansas (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Guillermo Cano Isaza, Colombian journalist (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Donald Justice, American poet and writing teacher (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Norris McWhirter, Scottish publisher and activist co-founded the Guinness World Records (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Ross McWhirter, Scottish publisher and activist, co-founded the Guinness World Records (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — George Wetherill, American physicist and academic (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Derek Shackleton, English cricketer, coach, and umpire (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistani general and politician, 6th President of Pakistan (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — John Holt, Jamaican cricketer (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Fulton Mackay, Scottish actor and playwright (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Miloš Jakeš, Czech communist politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Charles Gibson, American ethnohistorian (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Percy Mayfield, American R&B singer-songwriter (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Margaret Burbidge, English-American astrophysicist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Vikram Sarabhai, Indian physicist and academic (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Sid Bernstein, American record producer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Guy Gibson, Anglo-Indian commander and pilot, Victoria Cross recipient (d. 1944) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Oliver Crawford, American screenwriter and author (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Ioan Dicezare, Romanian general and pilot (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Edward Pinkowski, American writer, journalist and Polonia historian Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Michael Kidd, American dancer and choreographer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Gerd Buchdahl, German-English philosopher and author (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Ruth Lowe, Canadian pianist and songwriter (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Richard L. Bare, American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Samuel Fuller, American actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on August 12 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on August 12

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษาสมเด็จพระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง; วันแม่แห่งชาติ (TH)