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On This Day in History — January 12
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Highlights of January 12
- 2010 — Iranian physicist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi was assassinated while leaving his home for the University of Tehran, where he was a professor. Read more
- 2010 — An earthquake registering 7.0 Mw struck Haiti, killing more than 100,000 people. Read more
- 2007 — Comet McNaught (pictured) reached perihelion, becoming the brightest comet in over 40 years, with an apparent magnitude of −5.5. Read more
- 1967 — Seventy-three-year-old psychology professor James Bedford became the first person to be cryonically preserved with intent of future resuscitation. Read more
- 1964 — Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah was overthrown by rebels led by John Okello, ending 200 years of Arab dominance in Zanzibar. Read more
- 1918 — An underground explosion at a coal mine in Staffordshire, England, killed 155 men and boys. Read more
- 1916 — Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann became the first German aviators to be awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military honour. Read more
- 1899 — During a storm, the crew of Lynmouth Lifeboat Station transported their 10-ton lifeboat 15 mi (24 km) overland in order to rescue a damaged schooner. Read more
- 1895 — The National Trust, a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, was founded. Read more
- 1879 — Anglo-Zulu War: Natal Native Contingent and British troops defeated Zulu forces in the Action at Sihayo's Kraal. Read more
- 1865 — The foundation stone of Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork was laid. Read more
- 1808 — John Rennie's scheme to defend St Mary's Church (pictured) in Reculver from coastal erosion was abandoned in favour of demolition, despite the church being an exemplar of Anglo-Saxon architecture. Read more
- 1777 — Mission Santa Clara de Asís (pictured), a Spanish mission in California that formed the basis of both the city of Santa Clara and Santa Clara University, was established by the Franciscans. Read more
- 1659 — The fort at Allahabad was surrendered to the forces of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Read more
- 1554 — Bayinnaung, who later assembled what was probably the largest empire in the history of mainland Southeast Asia, was crowned as the king of the Burmese Toungoo dynasty. Read more
- 475 — Basiliscus became Byzantine emperor after Zeno was forced to flee Constantinople. Read more
Events
- 2020 — Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupts and kills 39 people. Read more
- 2016 — Ten people are killed and 15 wounded in a bombing near the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Read more
- 2015 — Government raids kill 143 Boko Haram fighters in Kolofata, Cameroon. Read more
- 2012 — Violent protests occur in Bucharest, Romania, as two-day-old demonstrations continue against President Traian Băsescu's economic austerity measures. Clashes are reported in numerous Romanian cities between protesters and law enforcement officers. Read more
- 2010 — An earthquake in Haiti occurs, killing between 220,000 and 300,000 people and destroying much of the capital Port-au-Prince. Read more
- 2007 — Comet C/2006 P1 (McNaught), one of the brightest comets ever observed is at its zenith visible during the day. Read more
- 2006 — A stampede during the Stoning of the Devil ritual on the last day at the Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, kills at least 362 Muslim pilgrims. Read more
- 2005 — Deep Impact launches from Cape Canaveral on a Delta II rocket. Read more
- 2004 — The world's largest ocean liner, RMS Queen Mary 2, makes its maiden voyage. Read more
- 2001 — Downtown Disney opens to the public as part of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Read more
- 1998 — Nineteen European nations agree to forbid human cloning. Read more
- 1997 — Space Shuttle program: Atlantis launches from the Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-81 to the Russian space station Mir, carrying astronaut Jerry M. Linenger for a four-month stay on board the station, replacing astronaut John E. Blaha. Read more
- 1991 — Persian Gulf War: An act of the U.S. Congress authorizes the use of American military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait. Read more
- 1990 — A seven-day pogrom breaks out against the Armenian civilian population of Baku, Azerbaijan, during which Armenians were beaten, tortured, murdered, and expelled from the city. Read more
- 1986 — Space Shuttle program: Congressman and future NASA Administrator Bill Nelson lifts off from Kennedy Space Center aboard Columbia on mission STS-61-C as a payload specialist. Read more
- 1976 — The United Nations Security Council votes 11–1 to allow the Palestine Liberation Organization to participate in a Security Council debate (without voting rights). Read more
- 1971 — The Harrisburg Seven: Rev. Philip Berrigan and five other activists are indicted on charges of conspiring to kidnap Henry Kissinger and of plotting to blow up the heating tunnels of federal buildings in Washington, D.C. Read more
- 1970 — Biafra capitulates, ending the Nigerian Civil War. Read more
- 1969 — The New York Jets of the American Football League defeat the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League to win Super Bowl III in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history. Read more
- 1967 — Dr. James Bedford becomes the first person to be cryonically preserved with intent of future resuscitation. Read more
- 1966 — Lyndon B. Johnson states that the United States should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there is ended. Read more
- 1964 — Rebels in Zanzibar begin a revolt known as the Zanzibar Revolution and proclaim a republic. Read more
- 1962 — Vietnam War: Operation Chopper, the first American combat mission and first American helicopter assault in the war, takes place. Read more
- 1955 — A Martin 2-0-2 and Douglas DC-3 collide over Boone County, Kentucky, killing 15 people. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The Red Army begins the Vistula–Oder Offensive. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the National War Labor Board. Read more
- 1933 — Casas Viejas incident: 22 peasants killed by the Security and Assault Corps in Casas Viejas, Spain. Read more
- 1932 — Hattie Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate. Read more
- 1918 — The Minnie Pit Disaster coal mining accident occurs in Halmer End, Staffordshire, in which 155 men and boys die. Read more
- 1916 — Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann become the first German aviators to earn the Pour le Mérite, receive the German Empire's highest military award, for achieving eight aerial victories each over Allied aircraft. Read more
- 1915 — The United States House of Representatives rejects a proposed constitutional amendment to require states to give women the right to vote. Read more
- 1911 — The University of the Philippines College of Law is established. Read more
- 1895 — The National Trust is founded in the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1872 — Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first imperial coronation in that city in over 200 years. Read more
- 1866 — The Royal Aeronautical Society is formed in London. Read more
- 1848 — The Palermo rising takes place in Sicily against the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Read more
- 1808 — John Rennie's scheme to defend St Mary's Church, Reculver, founded in 669, from coastal erosion is abandoned in favour of demolition, despite the church being an exemplar of Anglo-Saxon architecture and sculpture. Read more
- 1808 — The organizational meeting leading to the creation of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, is held in Edinburgh. Read more
- 1792 — Federalist Thomas Pinckney appointed first U.S. minister to Britain. Read more
- 1616 — The city of Belém, Brazil is founded on the Amazon River delta by Portuguese captain Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco. Read more
- 1554 — Bayinnaung, who would go on to assemble the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, is crowned King of Burma. Read more
- 1528 — Gustav I of Sweden is crowned King of Sweden, having already reigned since his election in June 1523. Read more
- 475 — Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople, and his general, Basiliscus gains control of the empire. Read more
Born on January 12
- 2012 — Artem Kotenko, Ukrainian singer Read more
- 2005 — Yuika, Japanese singer-songwriter Read more
- 2002 — Eva Lys, German tennis player Read more
- 2001 — Sam LaPorta, American football player Read more
- 2000 — Sven Botman, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1999 — Xavier Tillman, American basketball player Read more
- 1999 — Tyler Roberts, Welsh footballer Read more
- 1998 — Juan Foyth, Argentinian footballer Read more
- 1997 — Darius Slayton, American football player Read more
- 1996 — Ella Henderson, English singer and songwriter Read more
- 1995 — Allisha Gray, American basketball player Read more
- 1995 — Mike McGlinchey, American football player Read more
- 1994 — Emre Can, German footballer Read more
- 1993 — Jamel Artis, American basketball player Read more
- 1993 — D.O., South Korean singer Read more
- 1993 — Zayn Malik, English singer Read more
- 1993 — Simone Pecorini, Italian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Ishak Belfodil, Algerian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Samuele Longo, Italian footballer Read more
- 1991 — Pixie Lott, English singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress Read more
- 1991 — Raquel Rodriguez, American wrestler Read more
- 1991 — Matt Srama, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1991 — Alex Wood, American baseball player Read more
- 1989 — Thiemo-Jérôme Kialka, German footballer Read more
- 1989 — Axel Witsel, Belgian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Claude Giroux, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Hyun-soo Kim, South Korean baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Iván Nova, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Naya Rivera, American actress and singer (died 2020) Read more
- 1987 — Salvatore Sirigu, Italian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Kehoma Brenner, German rugby player Read more
- 1986 — Miguel Ángel Nieto, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1986 — Dani Osvaldo, Italian-Argentinian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Cynthia Addai-Robinson, English-American actress Read more
- 1985 — Artem Milevskyi, Ukrainian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Issa Rae, American actress, writer, director, producer and web series creator Read more
- 1985 — Borja Valero, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1984 — Jonathan Zydko, French footballer Read more
- 1982 — Paul-Henri Mathieu, French tennis player Read more
- 1982 — Chris Ray, American baseball player Read more
Died on January 12
- 2026 — Rick Garcia (activist), American LGBTQ rights activist (born 1956) Read more
- 2025 — Leslie Charleson, American actress (born 1945) Read more
- 2025 — Claude Jarman Jr., American actor and producer (born 1934) Read more
- 2023 — Lisa Marie Presley, American singer-songwriter (born 1968) Read more
- 2023 — Sharad Yadav, Indian politician, 30th Minister of Civil Aviation, 29th Labour Minister (born 1947) Read more
- 2022 — Ronnie Spector, American singer (born 1943) Read more
- 2020 — Sir Roger Scruton, English philosopher and writer (born 1944) Read more
- 2018 — Keith Jackson, American sports commentator and journalist (born 1928) Read more
- 2017 — William Peter Blatty, American writer and filmmaker (born 1928) Read more
- 2017 — Graham Taylor, English football player and manager (born 1944) Read more
- 2015 — Trevor Colbourn, American historian and academic (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Robert Gover, American journalist and author (born 1929) Read more
- 2015 — Carl Long, American baseball player (born 1935) Read more
- 2015 — Elena Obraztsova, Russian soprano and actress (born 1939) Read more
- 2015 — Inge Vermeulen, Brazilian-Dutch field hockey player (born 1985) Read more
- 2014 — Alexandra Bastedo, English actress (born 1946) Read more
- 2014 — Connie Binsfeld, American educator and politician, 58th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — George Dement, American soldier, businessman, and politician (born 1922) Read more
- 2013 — Precious Bryant, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1942) Read more
- 2013 — Flor María Chalbaud, First Lady of Venezuela (born 1921) Read more
- 2013 — Eugene Patterson, American journalist and activist (born 1923) Read more
- 2012 — Bjørn G. Andersen, Norwegian geologist and academic (born 1924) Read more
- 2012 — Glenda Dickerson, American director, choreographer, and educator (born 1945) Read more
- 2012 — Bill Janklow, American lawyer and politician, 27th Governor of South Dakota (born 1939) Read more
- 2012 — Charles H. Price II, American businessman and diplomat, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom (born 1931) Read more
- 2012 — Jim Stanley, American football player and coach (born 1935) Read more
- 2010 — Daniel Bensaïd, French philosopher and author (born 1946) Read more
- 2010 — Hasib Sabbagh, Palestinian businessman and philanthropist, co-founded Consolidated Contractors Company (born 1920) Read more
- 2009 — Claude Berri, French actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1934) Read more
- 2008 — Max Beck, American intersex advocate (born 1966) Read more
- 2007 — Alice Coltrane, American pianist and composer (born 1937) Read more
- 2007 — James Killen, Australian soldier, lawyer, and politician, 38th Australian Minister for Defence (born 1925) Read more
- 2006 — Pablita Velarde, Santa Clara Pueblo Native American painter (born 1918) Read more
- 2005 — Amrish Puri, Indian actor (born 1932) Read more
- 2004 — Olga Ladyzhenskaya, Russian mathematician and academic (born 1921) Read more
- 2003 — Dean Amadon, American ornithologist and author (born 1912) Read more
- 2003 — Kinji Fukasaku, Japanese actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1930) Read more
- 2003 — Leopoldo Galtieri, Argentine general and politician, 44th President of Argentina (born 1926) Read more
- 2003 — Maurice Gibb, Manx-Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1949) Read more
- 2003 — Alan Nunn May, English physicist and spy (born 1911) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Aelred of Rievaulx; Christian feast day:
Benedict Biscop; Christian feast day:
Bernard of Corleone; Christian feast day:
Marguerite Bourgeoys; Christian feast day:
Tatiana; Christian feast day:
January 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Memorial Day (Turkmenistan); National Youth Day (India); Prosecutor General's Day (Russia); Yennayer (Algeria); Zanzibar Revolution Day (Tanzania)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “January 12”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.