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On This Day in History — July 12
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Highlights of July 12
- 2008 — An edit on the page of the coati nicknamed it the Brazilian aardvark, in which multiple news channels followed in pursuit. Read more
- 2007 — Two U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters (pictured) conducted a series of air-to-ground attacks in Baghdad. Read more
- 2006 — Hezbollah forces crossed the Israel–Lebanon border and attacked Israeli military positions while firing rockets and mortars at Israeli towns, sparking a five-week war. Read more
- 1998 — France defeated the defending champions Brazil 3–0 to win their first FIFA World Cup title. Read more
- 1997 — Hayao Miyazaki's animated film Princess Mononoke is released, becoming the highest-grossing film in Japan for a few months. Read more
- 1979 — Rowdy fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago stormed the field during a Major League Baseball promotional event at which a crate of disco records was blown up. Read more
- 1963 — Sixteen-year-old Pauline Reade, the first victim of serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, disappeared in Gorton, England. Read more
- 1962 — The English rock band the Rolling Stones (pictured) played their first concert at the Marquee Club in London. Read more
- 1948 — Arab–Israeli War: Israel Defense Forces officer Yitzhak Rabin signed an order to expel Palestinians from the towns of Lydda and Ramle. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: German and Soviet forces engaged each other at the Battle of Prokhorovka (tanks pictured), one of the largest tank battles in military history. Read more
- 1920 — The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty was signed, with Soviet Russia agreeing to recognize an independent Lithuania. Read more
- 1918 — An explosion in the ammunition magazine of the Japanese battleship Kawachi resulted in the deaths of more than 600 officers and crewmen. Read more
- 1916 — First World War: Second Lieutenant Kléber Dupuy defeated a German attack on Fort Souville at a key moment of the Battle of Verdun. Read more
- 1913 — Second Balkan War: The Serbian Army began the Siege of Vidin, which they abandoned six days later when an armistice between the Serbs and Bulgarians was signed. Read more
- 1847 — Up to ten people died in a riot between Catholics and members of the Orange Order in Woodstock, New Brunswick. Read more
- 1801 — French Revolutionary Wars: A squadron of British ships of the line defeated a larger squadron of Spanish and French vessels in the Strait of Gibraltar. Read more
- 1561 — Saint Basil's Cathedral (pictured), located in Red Square, Moscow, was consecrated. Read more
- 1488 — Choe Bu, an official of the Joseon dynasty, returned to Korea after months of shipwrecked travel in China. Read more
- 927 — King Æthelstan of England secured the submission of four northern rulers: Constantine II of Scotland, Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, Ealdred I of Bamburgh, and Owain ap Dyfnwal of Strathclyde, leading to seven years of peace. Read more
Events
- 2026 — A bar fire kills 33 people in Bangkok, Thailand. Read more
- 2024 — Gazpromavia Flight 9608 crashes in Russia's Kolomensky District near Kolomna, killing three. Read more
- 2013 — Six people are killed and 200 injured in a French passenger train derailment in Brétigny-sur-Orge. Read more
- 2012 — Syrian Civil War: Government forces target the homes of rebels and activists in Tremseh and kill anywhere between 68 and 150 people. Read more
- 2012 — A tank truck explosion kills more than 100 people in Okobie, Nigeria. Read more
- 2007 — U.S. Army Apache helicopters engage in airstrikes against armed insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq, where civilians are killed; footage from the cockpit is later leaked to the Internet. Read more
- 2006 — A cross-border raid by Hezbollah militants starts the 2006 Lebanon War. Read more
- 2001 — Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-104, carrying the Quest Joint Airlock to the International Space Station. Read more
- 1998 — The Ulster Volunteer Force attack a house in Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a petrol bomb, killing the Quinn brothers. Read more
- 1998 — France win their first World Cup title, defeating defending champions Brazil 3–0. Read more
- 1995 — Chinese seismologists successfully predict the 1995 Myanmar–China earthquake, reducing the number of casualties to 11. Read more
- 1979 — The island nation of Kiribati becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1975 — São Tomé and Príncipe declare independence from Portugal. Read more
- 1973 — A fire destroys the entire sixth floor of the National Personnel Records Center of the United States. Read more
- 1971 — The Australian Aboriginal flag is flown for the first time. Read more
- 1967 — Riots begin in Newark, New Jersey. Read more
- 1963 — Pauline Reade, 16, disappears in Gorton, England, the first victim in the Moors murders. Read more
- 1961 — Indian city Pune floods due to failure of the Khadakwasla and Panshet dams, killing at least two thousand people. Read more
- 1961 — ČSA Flight 511 crashes at Casablanca–Anfa Airport in Morocco, killing 72. Read more
- 1960 — Orlyonok, the main Young Pioneer camp of the Russian SFSR, is founded. Read more
- 1948 — Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion orders the expulsion of Palestinians from the towns of Lod and Ramla. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Battle of Kursk: German and Soviet forces engage in the Battle of Prokhorovka, one of the largest armored engagements of all time. Read more
- 1920 — The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty is signed, by which Soviet Russia recognizes the independence of Lithuania. Read more
- 1918 — The Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Kawachi blows up at Shunan, western Honshu, Japan, killing at least 621. Read more
- 1917 — The Bisbee Deportation occurs as vigilantes kidnap and deport nearly 1,300 striking miners and others from Bisbee, Arizona. Read more
- 1913 — Serbian forces begin their siege of the Bulgarian city of Vidin; the siege is later called off when the war ends. Read more
- 1913 — The Second Revolution breaks out against the Beiyang government, as Li Liejun proclaims Jiangxi independent from the Republic of China. Read more
- 1862 — The Medal of Honor is authorized by the United States Congress. Read more
- 1847 — A riot occurs in Woodstock, New Brunswick, between Catholics and members of the Orange Order that results in up to ten deaths. Read more
- 1812 — The American Army of the Northwest briefly occupies the Upper Canadian settlement at what is now at Windsor, Ontario. Read more
- 1806 — At the insistence of Napoleon, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg and thirteen minor principalities leave the Holy Roman Empire and form the Confederation of the Rhine. Read more
- 1801 — British ships inflict heavy damage on Spanish and French ships in the Second Battle of Algeciras. Read more
- 1799 — Ranjit Singh conquers Lahore and becomes Maharaja of the Punjab (Sikh Empire). Read more
- 1790 — The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is passed in France by the National Constituent Assembly. Read more
- 1789 — In response to the dismissal of the French finance minister Jacques Necker, the radical journalist Camille Desmoulins gives a speech which results in the storming of the Bastille two days later. Read more
- 1776 — Captain James Cook begins his third voyage. Read more
- 1691 — Battle of Aughrim (Julian calendar): The decisive victory of William III of England's forces in Ireland. Read more
- 1580 — The Ostrog Bible, one of the early printed Bibles in a Slavic language, is published. Read more
- 1576 — Mughal Empire annexes Bengal after defeating the Bengal Sultanate at the Battle of Rajmahal. Read more
- 1562 — Fray Diego de Landa, acting Bishop of Yucatán, burns the sacred idols and books of the Maya. Read more
- 1543 — King Henry VIII of England marries his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr, at Hampton Court Palace. Read more
- 1527 — Lê Cung Hoàng cedes the throne to Mạc Đăng Dung, ending the Lê dynasty and starting the Mạc dynasty. Read more
- 1493 — Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, one of the best-documented early printed books, is published. Read more
- 1488 — Joseon Dynasty official Choe Bu returns to Korea after months of shipwrecked travel in China. Read more
- 1470 — The Ottomans capture Euboea. Read more
- 1450 — Although he had been previously pardoned, Jack Cade is killed while fleeing, bringing an end to Jack Cade's Rebellion. Read more
- 1335 — Pope Benedict XII issues the papal bull Fulgens sicut stella matutina to reform the Cistercian Order. Read more
- 1191 — Third Crusade: Saladin's garrison surrenders to Philip Augustus, ending the two-year siege of Acre. Read more
- 927 — King Constantine II of Scotland, King Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, Ealdred of Bamburgh and King Owain of the Cumbrians accept the overlordship of King Æthelstan of England, leading to seven years of peace in the north. Read more
- 813 — Leo V the Armenian is crowned as Byzantine Emperor after he successfully forced previous emperor Michael I Rangabe to abdicate the previous day. Read more
- 526 — Election of Pope Felix IV following the death of Pope John I earlier that year. Read more
- 70 — The armies of Titus attack the walls of Jerusalem after a six-month siege. Three days later they breach the walls, which enables the army to destroy the Second Temple. Read more
Born on July 12
- 2004 — Diabé Bolumbu, French footballer Read more
- 2002 — Nico Williams, Spanish footballer Read more
- 2001 — Kaylee McKeown, Australian swimmer Read more
- 2000 — Vinícius Júnior, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 2000 — Veronica Burton, American basketball player Read more
- 1998 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canadian basketball player Read more
- 1997 — Claire Chicha, French Korean singer-songwriter known by the stage name Spill Tab Read more
- 1997 — Jean-Kévin Duverne, French footballer Read more
- 1997 — Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani-English activist, Nobel Prize laureate Read more
- 1996 — Moussa Dembélé, French footballer Read more
- 1996 — Jordan Romero, American mountaineer Read more
- 1995 — Evania Pelite, Australian rugby union player Read more
- 1995 — Luke Shaw, English footballer Read more
- 1995 — Moses Simon, Nigerian footballer Read more
- 1995 — Jordyn Wieber, American gymnast Read more
- 1994 — Kanako Momota, Japanese singer-songwriter Read more
- 1993 — Jonas Brodin, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Bartosz Bereszyński, Polish footballer Read more
- 1992 — Luke Berry, English footballer Read more
- 1991 — Pablo Carreño Busta, Spanish tennis player Read more
- 1991 — Salih Dursun, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1991 — James Rodríguez, Colombian footballer Read more
- 1991 — Erik Per Sullivan, American actor Read more
- 1990 — Bebé, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1990 — Rachel Brosnahan, American actress Read more
- 1989 — Nick Palmieri, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1989 — Phoebe Tonkin, Australian actress Read more
- 1989 — Hilary Knight, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Patrick Beverley, American basketball player Read more
- 1988 — LeSean McCoy, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Inbee Park, South Korean golfer Read more
- 1987 — Lisbeth Torfing, Danish politician Read more
- 1986 — Didier Digard, French footballer Read more
- 1986 — Hannaliis Jaadla, Estonian footballer Read more
- 1986 — JP Pietersen, South African rugby player Read more
- 1986 — Simone Laudehr, German footballer Read more
- 1985 — Paulo Vitor Barreto, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Gianluca Curci, Italian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Keven Lacombe, Canadian cyclist Read more
- 1985 — Ismael Londt, Surinamese-Dutch kickboxer Read more
Died on July 12
- 2026 — Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar (born 1952) Read more
- 2026 — John Hamm, Canadian politician, 25th Premier of Nova Scotia (born 1938). Read more
- 2024 — Tonke Dragt, Dutch children's writer and illustrator (born 1930) Read more
- 2024 — Bill Viola, American video and installation artist (born 1951) Read more
- 2024 — Ruth Westheimer, German-American sex therapist (born 1928) Read more
- 2024 — Evan Wright, American writer (born 1964) Read more
- 2024 — Noriko Ohara, Japanese voice actress and narrator (born 1935) Read more
- 2020 — Kelly Preston, American actress and model (born 1962) Read more
- 2020 — Wim Suurbier, Dutch football player (born 1945) Read more
- 2019 — Emily Hartridge, English YouTuber and television presenter (born 1984) Read more
- 2018 — Annabelle Neilson, English socialite (born 1969) Read more
- 2016 — Goran Hadžić, Serbian politician (born 1958) Read more
- 2015 — D'Army Bailey, American lawyer, judge, and actor (born 1941) Read more
- 2015 — Chenjerai Hove, Zimbabwean journalist, author, and poet (born 1956) Read more
- 2015 — Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, Tibetan monk and activist (born 1950) Read more
- 2015 — Cheng Siwei, Chinese engineer, economist, and politician (born 1935) Read more
- 2014 — Jamil Ahmad, Pakistani author (born 1931) Read more
- 2014 — Nestor Basterretxea, Spanish painter and sculptor (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Emil Bobu, Romanian politician (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — Alfred de Grazia, American political scientist and author (born 1919) Read more
- 2014 — Kenneth J. Gray, American soldier and politician (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Valeriya Novodvorskaya, Russian journalist and politician (born 1950) Read more
- 2013 — Amar Bose, American businessman, founded the Bose Corporation (born 1929) Read more
- 2013 — Takako Takahashi, Japanese author (born 1932) Read more
- 2013 — Elaine Morgan, Welsh writer (born 1920) Read more
- 2013 — Alan Whicker, Egyptian-English journalist (born 1921) Read more
- 2012 — Alimuddin, Pakistani cricketer (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Dara Singh, Indian wrestler, actor, and politician (born 1928) Read more
- 2012 — Eddy Brown, English footballer and manager (born 1926) Read more
- 2012 — Else Holmelund Minarik, Danish-American author and illustrator (born 1920) Read more
- 2012 — Roger Payne, English mountaineer (born 1956) Read more
- 2012 — Hamid Samandarian, Iranian director and playwright (born 1931) Read more
- 2012 — George C. Stoney, American director and producer (born 1916) Read more
- 2011 — Sherwood Schwartz, American screenwriter and producer (born 1916) Read more
- 2010 — Olga Guillot, Cuban-American singer (born 1922) Read more
- 2010 — James P. Hogan, English-American author (born 1941) Read more
- 2010 — Paulo Moura, Brazilian clarinetist and saxophonist (born 1932) Read more
- 2010 — Pius Njawé, Cameroonian journalist (born 1957) Read more
- 2010 — Harvey Pekar, American author and critic (born 1939) Read more
- 2008 — Bobby Murcer, American baseball player, coach, and sportscaster (born 1946) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Eastern Orthodox); Christian feast day:
Hermagoras and Fortunatus; Christian feast day:
Jason of Thessalonica (Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
John Gualbert; Christian feast day:
John Jones; Christian feast day:
Drostan; Christian feast day:
Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin; Christian feast day:
Nabor and Felix; Christian feast day:
Nathan Söderblom (Lutheran, Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day:
Veronica; Christian feast day:
Viventiolus; Christian feast day:
July 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); The second day of Naadam (Mongolia); The Twelfth, also known as Orangemen's Day (Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Newfoundland and Labrador)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “July 12”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.