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On This Day in History — February 12

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Highlights of February 12

2019 — After being informed that its recently purchased coffin of Nedjemankh (pictured) had been looted, the Metropolitan Museum of Art shuttered its ongoing exhibition Nedjemankh and His Gilded Coffin two months early and later returned the artifact to Egypt. Read more
2016 — In the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba. Read more
2009 — Just before landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashes into a house in Clarence Center, New York, killing the house's occupant and all 49 people on board the aircraft. Read more
2003 — Protesters in La Paz and the Bolivian government brokered a deal to end two days of rioting against a proposed salary tax. Read more
2001 — The NASA space probe NEAR Shoemaker touched down on Eros, becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid. Read more
1994 — Edvard Munch's painting The Scream (pictured) was stolen from the National Gallery of Norway. Read more
1993 — Two-year-old James Bulger was led away from New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, England, and murdered by two 10-year-old boys, who became the youngest convicted murderers in modern English history. Read more
1988 — While claiming the right of innocent passage through Soviet territorial waters in the Black Sea, the American cruiser USS Yorktown and destroyer USS Caron were bumped by Soviet warships. Read more
1968 — Following the deaths of two employees on the job, black sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, began a strike that lasted more than two months. Read more
1945 — A devistating tornado outbreak across Mississippi and Alabama kills 45 people and injures 427 others. Read more
1942 — The Imperial Japanese Army initiated the Battle of Pasir Panjang in Kent Ridge Park in Singapore. Read more
1935 — USS Macon, one of the largest helium-filled airships ever created, crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Read more
1924 — George Gershwin's composition Rhapsody in Blue premiered at Aeolian Hall in New York. Read more
1917 — Mexican football club Toluca FC was founded by a group of local businessmen and sports enthusiasts. Read more
1909 — The ferry SS Penguin struck a rock in Wellington Harbour and sank, killing 75 people in New Zealand's worst maritime disaster of the 20th century. Read more
1894 — Ère des attentats: In one of the first acts of modern terrorism, Émile Henry threw a bomb into Café Terminus in Paris, France, killing one person and injuring 17 more. Read more
1855 — The precursor of Michigan State University in East Lansing was founded as the United States' first agricultural college. Read more
1691 — A papal conclave convened to select a new pope after the death of Pope Alexander VIII. Read more
1502 — Queen Isabella I issued an edict outlawing Islam in the Crown of Castile, forcing virtually all her Muslim subjects to convert to Christianity. Read more

Events

2026 — In the first general election since the July Revolution in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, wins a landslide victory upon returning to power after almost 19 years. A referendum held alongside was also approved by the majority of voters. Read more
2019 — The country known as the Republic of Macedonia renames itself the Republic of North Macedonia in accordance with the Prespa agreement, settling a long-standing naming dispute with Greece. Read more
2016 — Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sign an Ecumenical Declaration in the first such meeting between leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches since their split in 1054. Read more
2009 — Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashes into a house in Clarence Center, New York while on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, killing all 49 on board and one on the ground. Read more
2004 — The city of San Francisco begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in response to a directive from Mayor Gavin Newsom. Read more
2002 — The trial of Slobodan Milošević, the former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, begins at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. He dies four years later before its conclusion. Read more
2002 — An Iran Airtour Tupolev Tu-154 crashes in the mountains outside Khorramabad, Iran while descending for a landing at Khorramabad Airport, killing 119. Read more
2001 — NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft touches down in the "saddle" region of 433 Eros, becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid. Read more
1999 — United States President Bill Clinton is acquitted by the United States Senate in his impeachment trial. Read more
1994 — Four thieves break into the National Gallery of Norway and steal Edvard Munch's iconic painting The Scream. Read more
1993 — Two-year-old James Bulger is abducted from New Strand Shopping Centre by two ten-year-old boys, who later torture and murder him. Read more
1992 — The current Constitution of Mongolia comes into effect. Read more
1990 — Carmen Lawrence becomes the first female Premier in Australian history when she becomes Premier of Western Australia. Read more
1988 — Cold War: The 1988 Black Sea bumping incident: The U.S. missile cruiser USS Yorktown (CG-48) is intentionally rammed by the Soviet frigate Bezzavetnyy in the Soviet territorial waters, while Yorktown claims innocent passage. Read more
1983 — One hundred women protest in Lahore, Pakistan against military dictator Zia-ul-Haq's proposed Law of Evidence. The women were tear-gassed, baton-charged and thrown into lock-up. The women were successful in repealing the law. Read more
1974 — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970, is exiled from the Soviet Union. Read more
1968 — Vietnam War: The Phong Nhị and Phong Nhất massacre occurs, allegedly by South Korean troops. Read more
1966 — Rabbi Morris Adler is fatally shot by a disgruntled congregant at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan, United States. Read more
1965 — Malcolm X visits Smethwick near Birmingham following the racially-charged 1964 United Kingdom general election. Read more
1963 — Construction begins on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Read more
1963 — Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 705 crashes into the Everglades shortly after takeoff from Miami International Airport, killing all 45 people on board. Read more
1961 — The Soviet Union launches Venera 1 towards Venus. Read more
1947 — The largest observed iron meteorite until that time creates an impact crater in Sikhote-Alin, in the Soviet Union. Read more
1947 — Christian Dior unveils a "New Look", helping Paris regain its position as the capital of the fashion world. Read more
1946 — World War II: Operation Deadlight ends after scuttling 121 of 154 captured U-boats. Read more
1946 — African American United States Army veteran Isaac Woodard is severely beaten by a South Carolina police officer to the point where he loses his vision in both eyes. The incident later galvanizes the civil rights movement and partially inspires Orson Welles' film Touch of Evil. Read more
1945 — A devastating tornado outbreak in Mississippi and Alabama kills 45 people and injures 427 others. Read more
1935 — USS Macon, one of the two largest helium-filled airships ever created, crashes into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California and sinks. Read more
1921 — Bolsheviks launch a revolt in Georgia as a preliminary to the Red Army invasion of Georgia. Read more
1919 — The Second Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents is held by the Makhnovshchina at Huliaipole. Read more
1912 — The Xuantong Emperor, the last Emperor of China, abdicates. Read more
1909 — The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded. Read more
1909 — New Zealand's worst maritime disaster of the 20th century happens when the SS Penguin, an inter-island ferry, sinks and explodes at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. Read more
1894 — Café Terminus bombing by Émile Henry during the Ère des attentats (1892–1894). This is considered one of the first acts of modern terrorism. Read more
1889 — Antonín Dvořák's Jakobín is premiered at the National Theater in Prague. Read more
1832 — Ecuador annexes the Galápagos Islands. Read more
1825 — The Creek cede the last of their lands in Georgia to the United States government by the Treaty of Indian Springs, and migrate west. Read more
1818 — Bernardo O'Higgins formally approves the Chilean Declaration of Independence near Concepción, Chile. Read more
1817 — An Argentine/Chilean patriotic army, after crossing the Andes, defeats Spanish troops at the Battle of Chacabuco. Read more
1771 — Gustav III becomes the King of Sweden. Read more
1733 — Georgia Day: Englishman James Oglethorpe founds Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, by settling at Savannah. Read more
1689 — The Convention Parliament declares that the flight to France in 1688 by James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch, constitutes an abdication. Read more
1593 — Japanese invasion of Korea: Approximately 3,000 Joseon defenders led by general Kwŏn Yul successfully repel more than 30,000 Japanese forces in the Siege of Haengju. Read more
1541 — Santiago, Chile is founded by Pedro de Valdivia. Read more
1502 — Isabella I issues an edict outlawing Islam in the Crown of Castile, forcing virtually all her Muslim subjects to convert to Christianity. Read more
1502 — Vasco da Gama sets sail with 15 ships and 800 men from Lisbon, Portugal on his second voyage to India. Read more
1429 — English forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orléans in the Battle of the Herrings. Read more
1404 — The Italian professor Galeazzo di Santa Sofia performs the first post-mortem autopsy for the purposes of teaching and demonstration at the Heiligen–Geist Spital in Vienna. Read more
1096 — Pope Urban II confirms the foundation of the abbey of La Roë under Robert of Arbrissel as a community of canons regular. Read more
1059 — Upon reaching Rome, Bruno of Toul is elected as pope Leo IX and starts initiating reforms. Read more

Born on February 12

2001 — Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Georgian footballer Read more
2000 — Kim Ji-min, South Korean actress Read more
1994 — Kemal Bilmez, Belgian politician Read more
1994 — Arman Hall, American sprinter Read more
1994 — Paxton Lynch, American football player Read more
1993 — Bud Dupree, American football player Read more
1993 — Rafinha, Brazilian footballer Read more
1993 — Jennifer Stone, American actress Read more
1992 — Magda Linette, Polish tennis player Read more
1991 — Patrick Herrmann, German footballer Read more
1991 — Kane Richardson, Australian cricketer Read more
1990 — Katherine Barrell, Canadian actress, director, writer, and producer Read more
1990 — Robert Griffin III, American football player Read more
1989 — Josh Harrellson, American basketball player Read more
1988 — DeMarco Murray, American football player Read more
1988 — Nicolás Otamendi, Argentine footballer Read more
1988 — Josh Phegley, American baseball player Read more
1988 — Mike Posner, American singer-songwriter and producer Read more
1987 — Jérémy Chardy, French tennis player Read more
1987 — Gabriela Mărginean, Romanian basketball player Read more
1986 — Todd Frazier, American baseball player Read more
1985 — Konstantin Pushkaryov, Kazakhstani ice hockey player Read more
1984 — Brad Keselowski, American race car driver Read more
1984 — Andrei Sidorenkov, Estonian footballer Read more
1984 — Peter Vanderkaay, American swimmer Read more
1983 — Carlton Brewster, American football player and coach Read more
1982 — Jonas Hiller, Swiss ice hockey player Read more
1982 — Louis Tsatoumas, Greek long jumper Read more
1982 — Anthony Tuitavake, New Zealand rugby player Read more
1981 — Wade McKinnon, Australian rugby league player Read more
1980 — Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spanish tennis player Read more
1980 — Sarah Lancaster, American actress Read more
1980 — Gucci Mane, American rapper Read more
1980 — Christina Ricci, American actress and producer Read more
1979 — Jesse Spencer, Australian actor and violinist Read more
1978 — Paul Anderson, English actor Read more
1977 — Jimmy Conrad, American soccer player and manager Read more
1976 — Christian Cullen, New Zealand rugby player Read more
1975 — Scot Pollard, American basketball player and actor Read more
1974 — Naseem Hamed, English boxer Read more

Died on February 12

2022 — Ivan Reitman, Slovak-Canadian actor, director, and producer (born 1946) Read more
2020 — Christie Blatchford, Canadian newspaper columnist, journalist and broadcaster (born 1951) Read more
2020 — Geert Hofstede, Dutch social psychologist (born 1928) Read more
2019 — Gordon Banks, English footballer (born 1937) Read more
2019 — Lyndon LaRouche, American political activist (born 1922) Read more
2019 — Pedro Morales, Puerto Rican professional wrestler and commentator (born 1942) Read more
2018 — Bill Crider, American author (born 1941) Read more
2017 — Al Jarreau, American singer (born 1940) Read more
2017 — Anna Marguerite McCann, first female American underwater archaeologist (born 1933) Read more
2016 — Dominique D'Onofrio, Italian-Belgian footballer and coach (born 1953) Read more
2016 — Yannis Kalaitzis, Greek cartoonist (born 1945) Read more
2016 — Yan Su, Chinese general and composer (born 1930) Read more
2015 — Movita Castaneda, American actress and singer (born 1916) Read more
2015 — Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Malaysian cleric and politician, 12th Menteri Besar of Kelantan (born 1931) Read more
2015 — Gary Owens, American radio host and voice actor (born 1934) Read more
2015 — Steve Strange, Welsh singer (born 1959) Read more
2014 — Sid Caesar, American actor and comedian (born 1922) Read more
2014 — John Pickstone, English historian and author (born 1944) Read more
2013 — Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabian prince (born 1941) Read more
2013 — Reginald Turnill, English journalist and author (born 1915) Read more
2013 — Hennadiy Udovenko, Ukrainian politician and diplomat, 2nd Minister of Foreign Affairs for Ukraine (born 1931) Read more
2012 — Zina Bethune, American actress, dancer, and choreographer (born 1945) Read more
2012 — Denis Flannery, Australian rugby player and coach (born 1928) Read more
2012 — David Kelly, Irish actor (born 1929) Read more
2012 — John Severin, American illustrator (born 1921) Read more
2011 — Peter Alexander, Austrian singer and actor (born 1926) Read more
2011 — Betty Garrett, American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1919) Read more
2011 — Kenneth Mars, American actor and comedian (born 1935) Read more
2010 — Nodar Kumaritashvili, Georgian luger (born 1988) Read more
2009 — Colgan Air Flight 3407 victims: Read more
2009 — Alison Des Forges, American historian and activist (born 1942) Read more
2009 — Beverly Eckert, American activist (born 1951) Read more
2009 — Mat Mathews, Dutch accordion player (born 1924) Read more
2009 — Coleman Mellett, American guitarist (born 1974) Read more
2009 — Gerry Niewood, American saxophonist (born 1943) Read more
2008 — David Groh, American actor (born 1939) Read more
2007 — Ann Barzel, American writer and dance critic (born 1905) Read more
2007 — Peggy Gilbert, American saxophonist and bandleader (born 1905) Read more
2005 — Dorothy Stang, American-Brazilian nun and missionary (born 1931) Read more
2002 — John Eriksen, Danish footballer (born 1957) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Benedict of Aniane; Christian feast day: Julian the Hospitaller; Christian feast day: Martyrs of Abitinae; Christian feast day: Meletius of Antioch; Christian feast day: February 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Georgia Day (Georgia (U.S. state)); Lincoln's Birthday (United States); Red Hand Day (United Nations); Union Day (Myanmar)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “February 12”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.