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On This Day in History — August 12
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Highlights of August 12
- 2021 — Six people, including the perpetrator, were killed in a mass shooting in Plymouth, England. Read more
- 2016 — The state-owned Taedonggang Brewing Company inaugurated the first beer festival in North Korea. Read more
- 2000 — Kursk, an Oscar-class submarine of the Russian Navy, suffered an on-board explosion and sank in the Barents Sea during a military exercise, killing 118 people. Read more
- 1990 — Near Faith, South Dakota, American paleontologist Sue Hendrickson found one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons, nicknamed Sue (pictured). Read more
- 1985 — Japan Air Lines Flight 123 (aircraft involved pictured) crashed into Mount Takamagahara in Japan, killing 520 of 524 people on board, including singer Kyu Sakamoto, in the world's deadliest single-aircraft aviation disaster. Read more
- 1969 — The Troubles: Riots erupted in the neighbourhood of Bogside in Derry, and spread across much of Northern Ireland. Read more
- 1952 — Thirteen Jewish poets were executed in Moscow for espionage based on false confessions. Read more
- 1945 — An official administrative history of the Manhattan Project, written by American physicist Henry DeWolf Smyth, was released to the public days after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: In Sant'Anna di Stazzema, Italy, the Waffen-SS and the Brigate Nere murdered about 560 local villagers and refugees and burned their bodies. Read more
- 1914 — World War I: Belgian troops won a victory at the Battle of Halen, but were ultimately unable to stop the German invasion of Belgium. Read more
- 1883 — The last known quagga (example pictured), a subspecies of the plains zebra, died at Natura Artis Magistra, a zoo in Amsterdam. Read more
- 1881 — Franco-American children as young as seven years old began striking against Cabot Mill in Brunswick, Maine, shutting down operations for three days. Read more
- 1834 — A race riot in Philadelphia, United States, destroyed African-American businesses and killed two people. Read more
- 1323 — Sweden and the Novgorod Republic signed the Treaty of Nöteborg, resulting in a hiatus in the Swedish–Novgorodian Wars. Read more
- 1099 — Crusades: Fatimid forces under al-Afdal Shahanshah began retreating to Egypt after the Battle of Ascalon, concluding the First Crusade. Read more
Events
- 2021 — Six people, five victims and the perpetrator are killed in Keyham, Plymouth in the worst mass shooting in the UK since 2010. Read more
- 2018 — Thirty-nine civilians, including a dozen children, are killed in an explosion at a weapons depot in Sarmada, Syria. Read more
- 2017 — The Unite the Right rally occurs in Charlottesville, Virginia, leading to three deaths and injuring nearly 50 more. Read more
- 2016 — Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capture the city of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Read more
- 2015 — At least two massive explosions kill 173 people and injure nearly 800 more in Tianjin, China. Read more
- 2000 — The Russian Navy submarine Kursk explodes and sinks in the Barents Sea during a military exercise, killing her entire 118-man crew. Read more
- 1994 — Major League Baseball players go on strike, eventually forcing the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. Read more
- 1992 — Canada, Mexico and the United States announce completion of negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Read more
- 1990 — Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton found to date, is discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota. Read more
- 1985 — Japan Air Lines Flight 123, a Boeing 747, crashes into Osutaka ridge in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, killing 520, becoming the worst single-plane air disaster. Read more
- 1984 — An infamous brawl takes place at the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium between the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres. Read more
- 1981 — The IBM Personal Computer is released. Read more
- 1977 — The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Read more
- 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. Read more
- 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. Read more
- 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. Read more
- 1964 — South Africa is banned from the Olympic Games due to the country's racist policies. Read more
- 1960 — Echo 1A, NASA's first successful communications satellite, is launched. Read more
- 1953 — Thermonuclear bomb testing: The Soviet atomic bomb project continues with the detonation of "RDS-6s" (Joe 4) using a "layered" scheme. Read more
- 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 are killed. Read more
- 1952 — The Night of the Murdered Poets: Thirteen prominent Jewish intellectuals are murdered in Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union. Read more
- 1950 — Korean War: Bloody Gulch massacre: Seventy-five American POWs are massacred by the North Korean Army. Read more
- 1948 — Between 15 and 150 unarmed members of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement are killed by Pakistani police. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Waffen-SS troops massacre 560 people in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Nazi German troops end the week-long Wola massacre, during which at least 40,000 people are killed indiscriminately or in mass executions. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Alençon is liberated by General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, becoming the first city in France to be liberated from the Nazis by French forces. Read more
- 1914 — World War I: France, the United Kingdom and the British Empire declare war on Austria-Hungary. Read more
- 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. Read more
- 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 where it is formally recognized as Hawaii. Read more
- 1883 — The last quagga dies at the Natura Artis Magistra, a zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Read more
- 1865 — Joseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs the first antiseptic surgery. Read more
- 1851 — Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine. Read more
- 1831 — French intervention forces William I of the Netherlands to abandon his attempt to suppress the Belgian Revolution. Read more
- 1806 — Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina after the first British invasion. Read more
- 1793 — The Rhône and Loire départments are created when the former département of Rhône-et-Loire is split into two. Read more
- 1788 — The Anjala conspiracy is signed. Read more
- 1765 — Treaty of Allahabad is signed. The Treaty marks the political and constitutional involvement and the beginning of Company rule in India. Read more
- 1687 — Battle of Mohács: Charles of Lorraine defeats the Ottoman Empire. Read more
- 1676 — Praying Indian John Alderman shoots and kills Metacomet, the Wampanoag war chief, ending King Philip's War. Read more
- 1624 — Charles de La Vieuville is arrested and replaced by Cardinal Richelieu as the French king's chief advisor. Read more
- 1499 — First engagement of the Battle of Zonchio between Venetian and Ottoman fleets. Read more
- 1492 — Christopher Columbus arrives in the Canary Islands on his first voyage to the New World. Read more
- 1376 — Andronikos IV Palaiologos enters Constantinople by force and captures his father, emperor John V Palaiologos, and his younger brothers during the Byzantine civil war of 1373–1379. Read more
- 1323 — The Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and Novgorod Republic is signed, regulating the border between the two countries for the first time. Read more
- 1204 — The Republic of Venice acquires the right to Crete from Boniface I of Montferrat. Read more
- 1164 — Battle of Harim: Nur ad-Din Zangi defeats the Crusader armies of the County of Tripoli and the Principality of Antioch. Read more
- 1121 — Battle of Didgori: The Georgian army under King David IV wins a decisive victory over the famous Seljuk commander Ilghazi. Read more
- 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. Read more
Born on August 12
- 2001 — Dixie D'Amelio, American social media personality and singer Read more
- 2000 — Tristan Charpentier, French racing driver Read more
- 1999 — Matthijs de Ligt, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1999 — Dream, American YouTuber Read more
- 1999 — Jule Niemeier, German tennis player Read more
- 1999 — GK Barry, social media star and presenter Read more
- 1998 — Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greek tennis player Read more
- 1996 — Choi Yu-jin, South Korean singer and actress Read more
- 1996 — Arthur Melo, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1996 — Samuel Moutoussamy, Congolese footballer Read more
- 1994 — Ian Happ, American baseball player Read more
- 1993 — Ewa Farna, Czech singer-songwriter Read more
- 1993 — Luna, South Korean singer, actress and presenter Read more
- 1992 — Cara Delevingne, English model and actress Read more
- 1992 — Jacob Loko, Australian rugby player Read more
- 1992 — Teo Gheorghiu, Swiss pianist and actor Read more
- 1991 — Jesinta Campbell, Australian model Read more
- 1991 — Sam Hoare, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1991 — Khris Middleton, American basketball player Read more
- 1991 — LaKeith Stanfield, American actor and musician Read more
- 1990 — Mario Balotelli, Italian footballer Read more
- 1989 — Tom Cleverley, English footballer Read more
- 1989 — Hong Jeong-ho, South Korean footballer Read more
- 1989 — Sunye, South Korean singer Read more
- 1988 — Tyson Fury, English boxer Read more
- 1988 — Matt Gillett, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1987 — Vanessa Watts, West Indian cricketer Read more
- 1986 — Andrei Agius, Maltese footballer Read more
- 1986 — Kyle Arrington, American football player Read more
- 1985 — Danny Graham, English footballer Read more
- 1983 — Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1983 — Kléber Giacomance de Souza Freitas, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Manoa Vosawai, Italian rugby player Read more
- 1982 — Boban Grnčarov, Macedonian footballer Read more
- 1982 — Alexandros Tzorvas, Greek footballer Read more
- 1981 — Tony Capaldi, Norwegian–Northern Irish footballer Read more
- 1981 — Djibril Cissé, French footballer Read more
- 1980 — Javier Chevantón, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1980 — Maggie Lawson, American actress Read more
- 1980 — Dominique Swain, American actress Read more
Died on August 12
- 2024 — Kim Kahana, American actor and stunt performer (born 1929) Read more
- 2021 — Una Stubbs, English actress, TV personality, and dancer (born 1937) Read more
- 2020 — Bill Yeoman, American college football player and coach (born 1927) Read more
- 2019 — DJ Arafat, Ivorian DJ and singer (born 1986) Read more
- 2017 — Bryan Murray, Canadian ice hockey coach (born 1942) Read more
- 2016 — Juan Pedro de Miguel, Spanish handball player (born 1958) Read more
- 2015 — Jaakko Hintikka, Finnish philosopher and academic (born 1929) Read more
- 2015 — Stephen Lewis, English actor and screenwriter (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Meshulim Feish Lowy, Hungarian-Canadian rabbi and author (born 1921) Read more
- 2015 — John Scott, English organist and conductor (born 1956) Read more
- 2014 — Lauren Bacall, American model, actress, and singer (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Futatsuryū Jun'ichi, Japanese sumo wrestler (born 1950) Read more
- 2014 — Kongō Masahiro, Japanese sumo wrestler (born 1948) Read more
- 2013 — Tereza de Arriaga, Portuguese painter (born 1915) Read more
- 2013 — Hans-Ekkehard Bob, German soldier and pilot (born 1917) Read more
- 2013 — Pauline Maier, American historian and academic (born 1938) Read more
- 2013 — David McLetchie, Scottish lawyer and politician (born 1952) Read more
- 2013 — Vasiliy Mihaylovich Peskov, Russian ecologist and journalist (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Jimmy Carr, American football player and coach (born 1933) Read more
- 2012 — Jerry Grant, American race car driver (born 1935) Read more
- 2012 — Joe Kubert, Polish-American illustrator, founded The Kubert School (born 1926) Read more
- 2012 — Édgar Morales Pérez, Mexican engineer and politician Read more
- 2012 — Alf Morris, English politician and activist (born 1928) Read more
- 2011 — Robert Robinson, English journalist and author (born 1927) Read more
- 2010 — Isaac Bonewits, American Druid, author, and activist; founded Ár nDraíocht Féin (born 1949) Read more
- 2010 — Guido de Marco, Maltese lawyer and politician, 6th President of Malta (born 1931) Read more
- 2010 — Richie Hayward, American drummer and songwriter (born 1946) Read more
- 2010 — André Kim, South Korean fashion designer (born 1935) Read more
- 2009 — Les Paul, American guitarist, songwriter, and inventor (born 1915) Read more
- 2008 — Christie Allen, English-Australian singer (born 1954) Read more
- 2008 — Helge Hagerup, Norwegian playwright, poet and novelist (born 1933) Read more
- 2007 — Merv Griffin, American actor, singer, and producer, created Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune (born 1925) Read more
- 2007 — Mike Wieringo, American author and illustrator (born 1963) Read more
- 2006 — Victoria Gray Adams, American civil rights activist (born 1926) Read more
- 2005 — John Loder, English sound engineer and producer, founded Southern Studios (born 1946) Read more
- 2004 — Godfrey Hounsfield, English biophysicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1919) Read more
- 2002 — Enos Slaughter, American baseball player and manager (born 1916) Read more
- 2000 — Gennady Lyachin, Russian captain (born 1955) Read more
- 2000 — Loretta Young, American actress (born 1913) Read more
- 1999 — Jean Drapeau, Canadian lawyer and politician, 37th Mayor of Montreal (born 1916) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Euplius; Christian feast day:
Eusebius of Milan; Christian feast day:
Herculanus of Brescia; Christian feast day:
Pope Innocent XI; Christian feast day:
Jænberht; Christian feast day:
Jane Frances de Chantal; Christian feast day:
Blessed Karl Leisner; Christian feast day:
Muiredach (or Murtagh); Christian feast day:
Porcarius II; Christian feast day:
Blessed Victoria Díez Bustos de Molina; Christian feast day:
August 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Glorious Twelfth (United Kingdom); HM the Queen Mother's Birthday and National Mother's Day (Thailand); International Youth Day (United Nations); Russian Air Force Day (Russia); Sea Org Day (Scientology); World Elephant Day (International)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “August 12”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.