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On This Day in History — November 12
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Highlights of November 12
- 2014 — The European Space Agency's lander Philae touched down on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, becoming the first spacecraft to land on a comet. Read more
- 2011 — An explosion in the Shahid Modarres missile base led to the deaths of 17 members of the Revolutionary Guards, including Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a key figure in Iran's missile program. Read more
- 2006 — Although the Georgian government declared it illegal, South Ossetia held a referendum on independence, with more than 99 percent of voters in favour of preserving the region's status as a de facto independent state. Read more
- 2001 — American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into residential buildings five minutes after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, killing a total of 265 people. Read more
- 1996 — A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 collided in mid-air near New Delhi, killing 349 people, the deadliest such collision in history. Read more
- 1991 — Indonesian forces opened fire on student demonstrators protesting the occupation of East Timor in the capital Dili, killing at least 250 people. Read more
- 1973 — The first episode of Last of the Summer Wine, the longest-running television sitcom in history, premiered on the BBC. Read more
- 1970 — The Oregon Highway Division unsuccessfully attempted to destroy a rotting beached sperm whale near Florence, Oregon, with dynamite. Read more
- 1970 — The deadliest tropical cyclone in history made landfall on the coast of East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh), killing at least 250,000 people. Read more
- 1956 — Suez Crisis: During an invasion of Rafah, Israeli soldiers shot and killed an estimated 111 Palestinian refugees and local inhabitants. Read more
- 1944 — Second World War: In Operation Catechism, the Royal Air Force sank the German battleship Tirpitz (video featured) near Tromsø, Norway, killing about 1,000 sailors on board. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the decisive engagement in a series of sea battles between Allied and Japanese forces during the months-long Guadalcanal campaign in the Solomon Islands, began. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov arrived in Berlin to discuss the possibility of the Soviet Union joining the Axis powers. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: Free French forces captured Gabon from Vichy France. Read more
- 1932 — At the request of the Government of Western Australia, the Australian military officially resumed fighting the Emu War after their prior withdrawal. Read more
- 1928 — The British ocean liner SS Vestris sank in the western Atlantic Ocean, killing 111 people. Read more
- 1920 — The Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes signed the Treaty of Rapallo to establish national borders east of the Adriatic Sea. Read more
- 1912 — Eight months after perishing during the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, the bodies of Robert Falcon Scott (pictured) and his companions were discovered on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Read more
- 1911 — The Corozal, the most powerful dredger built to that time, was launched in London for service in construction of the Panama Canal. Read more
- 1892 — William Heffelfinger was paid $500 by the Allegheny Athletic Association, becoming the first professional American football player. Read more
- 1330 — Led by the voivode Basarab I, Wallachian forces defeated the Hungarian army in an ambush at the Battle of Posada (depicted). Read more
Events
- 2022 — A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Bell P-63 Kingcobra collide in mid-air over Dallas Executive Airport during an airshow, killing six. Read more
- 2021 — The Los Angeles Superior Court formally ends the 14-year conservatorship to pop singer Britney Spears. Read more
- 2020 — The PlayStation 5 is released. Read more
- 2017 — The 7.3 Mw Kermanshah earthquake shakes the northern Iran–Iraq border with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). At least 410 people are killed and over 7,000 are injured. Read more
- 2015 — Two suicide bombers detonate explosives in Bourj el-Barajneh, Beirut, killing 43 people and injuring over 200 others. Read more
- 2014 — The Philae lander, deployed from the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe, reaches the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Read more
- 2014 — An Armenian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter is shot down by Azerbaijani forces, killing all three people on board. Read more
- 2011 — Silvio Berlusconi tenders his resignation as Prime Minister of Italy, effective November 16, due in large part to the Euro area crisis. Read more
- 2011 — A blast in Iran's Shahid Modarres missile base leads to the death of 17 of the Revolutionary Guards members, including Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a key figure in Iran's missile program. Read more
- 2003 — Iraq War: In Nasiriyah, Iraq, at least 23 people, among them the first Italian casualties of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, are killed in a suicide bomb attack on an Italian police base. Read more
- 2003 — Shanghai Transrapid sets a new world speed record of 501 kilometres per hour (311 mph) for commercial railway systems, which remains the fastest for unmodified commercial rail vehicles. Read more
- 2001 — In New York City, American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300 en route to the Dominican Republic, crashes minutes after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 260 on board and five on the ground. Read more
- 2001 — War in Afghanistan: Taliban forces abandon Kabul, ahead of advancing Afghan Northern Alliance troops. Read more
- 1999 — The 7.2 Mw Düzce earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). At least 845 people are killed and almost 5,000 are injured. Read more
- 1997 — Ramzi Yousef is found guilty of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Read more
- 1996 — A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakh Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane collide in mid-air near New Delhi, killing 349 in the deadliest mid-air collision to date. Read more
- 1995 — Erdut Agreement regarding the peaceful resolution to the Croatian War of Independence is reached. Read more
- 1995 — Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-74 to deliver the Mir Docking Module to the Russian space station Mir. Read more
- 1991 — Santa Cruz massacre: The Indonesian Army open fire on a crowd of student protesters in Dili, East Timor. Read more
- 1990 — Crown Prince Akihito is formally installed as Emperor Akihito of Japan, becoming the 125th Japanese monarch. Read more
- 1990 — Tim Berners-Lee publishes a formal proposal for the World Wide Web. Read more
- 1982 — USSR: Yuri Andropov becomes the General Secretary of the Communist Party's Central Committee, succeeding Leonid I. Brezhnev. Read more
- 1981 — Space Shuttle program: Mission STS-2, utilizing the Space Shuttle Columbia, marks the first time a crewed spacecraft is launched into space twice. Read more
- 1980 — The NASA space probe Voyager I makes its closest approach to Saturn and takes the first images of its rings. Read more
- 1979 — Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all petroleum imports into the United States from Iran. Read more
- 1977 — France conducts the Oreste nuclear test as 14th in the group of 29, 1975–78 French nuclear tests series. Read more
- 1975 — The Comoros joins the United Nations. Read more
- 1971 — Vietnam War: As part of Vietnamization, U.S. President Richard Nixon sets February 1, 1972 as the deadline for the removal of another 45,000 American troops from Vietnam. Read more
- 1971 — Aeroflot Flight N-63 crashes on approach to Vinnytsia Airport, killing 48. Read more
- 1970 — The Oregon Highway Division attempts to destroy a rotting beached sperm whale with explosives, leading to the now infamous "exploding whale" incident. Read more
- 1970 — The 1970 Bhola cyclone makes landfall on the coast of East Pakistan, becoming the deadliest tropical cyclone in history. Read more
- 1969 — Vietnam War: Independent investigative journalist Seymour Hersh breaks the story of the My Lai Massacre. Read more
- 1961 — Terry Jo Duperrault is the sole survivor of a series of brutal murders aboard the ketch Bluebelle. Read more
- 1958 — A team of rock climbers led by Warren Harding completes the first ascent of The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. Read more
- 1956 — Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia join the United Nations. Read more
- 1956 — In the midst of the Suez Crisis, Palestinian refugees are shot dead in Rafah by Israel Defense Force soldiers following the invasion of the Gaza Strip. Read more
- 1954 — Ellis Island ceases operations. Read more
- 1948 — Aftermath of World War II: In Tokyo, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East sentences seven Japanese military and government officials, including General Hideki Tojo, to death for their roles in World War II. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The Royal Air Force sink the German battleship Tirpitz, moored off Tromsø, Norway. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: Naval Battle of Guadalcanal between Japanese and American forces begins near Guadalcanal. The battle lasts for three days and ends with an American victory. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: Temperatures around Moscow drop to −12 °C (10 °F) as the Soviet Union launches ski troops for the first time against the freezing German forces near the city. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: The Soviet cruiser Chervona Ukraina is destroyed during the Battle of Sevastopol. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: The Battle of Gabon ends as Free French Forces take Libreville, Gabon, and all of French Equatorial Africa from Vichy French forces. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov arrives in Berlin to discuss the possibility of the Soviet Union joining the Axis Powers. Read more
- 1938 — Nazi Germany issues the Decree on the Elimination of Jews from Economic Life prohibiting Jews from selling goods and services or working in a trade, totally segregating Jews from the German economy. Read more
- 1936 — In California, the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opens to traffic. Read more
- 1933 — Nazi Germany uses a referendum to ratify its withdrawal from the League of Nations. Read more
- 1928 — SS Vestris sinks approximately 200 miles (320 km) off Hampton Roads, Virginia, killing at least 110 passengers, mostly women and children who die after the vessel is abandoned. Read more
- 1927 — Leon Trotsky is expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, leaving Joseph Stalin in undisputed control of the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1920 — The 1920 Cork hunger strike by Irish republicans ends after three deaths. Read more
- 1920 — Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes sign the Treaty of Rapallo. Read more
- 1918 — Dissolution of Austria-Hungary: Austria becomes a republic. After the proclamation, a coup attempt by the communist Red Guard is defeated by the social-democratic Volkswehr. Read more
- 1912 — First Balkan War: King George I of Greece makes a triumphal entry into Thessaloniki after its liberation from 482 years of Ottoman rule. Read more
- 1912 — The frozen bodies of Robert Scott and his men are found on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Read more
- 1905 — Norway holds a referendum resulting in popular approval of the Storting's decision to authorise the government to make the offer of the throne of the newly independent country. Read more
- 1893 — Abdur Rahman Khan accepts the Durand Line as the border between the Emirate of Afghanistan and the British Raj. Read more
- 1892 — Pudge Heffelfinger becomes the first professional American football player on record, participating in his first paid game for the Allegheny Athletic Association. Read more
- 1835 — Construction is completed on the Wilberforce Monument in Kingston Upon Hull. Read more
- 1439 — Plymouth becomes the first town incorporated by the English Parliament. Read more
- 1330 — Battle of Posada ends: Wallachian Voievode Basarab I defeats the Hungarian army by ambush. Read more
Born on November 12
- 2007 — Leonardo Puglisi, Australian journalist Read more
- 2002 — Paolo Banchero, Italian-American basketball player Read more
- 2002 — Tino Livramento, English footballer Read more
- 2001 — Raffey Cassidy, English actress Read more
- 1999 — Choi Yoo-jung, South Korean singer, dancer, rapper, and actress Read more
- 1998 — Jules Koundé, French footballer Read more
- 1998 — Elias Pettersson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1997 — Dexter Lawrence, American football player Read more
- 1995 — Thomas Lemar, French footballer Read more
- 1995 — xQc, Canadian online streamer Read more
- 1994 — Guillaume Cizeron, French ice dancer Read more
- 1994 — Kseniya Alexandrova, Russian model (died 2025) Read more
- 1993 — Tomáš Hertl, Czech ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Dāvis Bertāns, Latvian basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Trey Burke, American basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Adam Larsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Luguelín Santos, Dominican sprinter Read more
- 1991 — Cairo Santos, Brazilian gridiron football player Read more
- 1991 — Gijs Van Hoecke, Belgian cyclist Read more
- 1990 — Florent Manaudou, French swimmer Read more
- 1990 — Marcell Ozuna, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Harmeet Singh, Norwegian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Siim-Sander Vene, Estonian basketball player Read more
- 1988 — Russell Westbrook, American basketball player Read more
- 1987 — Jason Day, Australian golfer Read more
- 1987 — Kengo Kora, Japanese actor Read more
- 1987 — Bryan Little, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1985 — Adlène Guedioura, French-Algerian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Jorge Masvidal, American Mixed Martial Artist Read more
- 1984 — Omarion, American singer, songwriter, actor and dancer Read more
- 1984 — Sandara Park, South Korean singer, dancer, and actress Read more
- 1983 — Charlie Morton, American baseball player Read more
- 1982 — Anne Hathaway, American actress Read more
- 1981 — Annika Becker, German pole vaulter Read more
- 1981 — DJ Campbell, English footballer Read more
- 1980 — Nur Fettahoğlu, German-Turkish journalist and actress Read more
- 1980 — Ryan Gosling, Canadian actor, producer and singer Read more
- 1980 — Charlie Hodgson, English rugby player Read more
- 1979 — Cote de Pablo, Chilean actress Read more
- 1979 — Lucas Glover, American golfer Read more
Died on November 12
- 2024 — Roy Haynes, American drummer and composer (born 1925) Read more
- 2024 — John Horgan, Canadian politician and diplomat, 36th Premier of British Columbia (born 1959) Read more
- 2024 — Song Jae-rim, South Korean actor and model (born 1985) Read more
- 2024 — Thomas E. Kurtz, American computer scientist and educator (born 1928) Read more
- 2024 — Timothy West, English actor (born 1934) Read more
- 2023 — Don Walsh, American oceanographer (born 1931) Read more
- 2021 — Chung-Yun Hse, wood scientist (born 1935) Read more
- 2018 — Stan Lee, American comic book writer, editor, and publisher (born 1922) Read more
- 2016 — Lupita Tovar, Mexican-American actress (born 1910) Read more
- 2016 — Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, Egyptian actor (born 1946) Read more
- 2015 — Márton Fülöp, Hungarian footballer (born 1983) Read more
- 2015 — Jihadi John, terrorist (born 1988) Read more
- 2014 — Ravi Chopra, Indian director and producer (born 1946) Read more
- 2014 — Warren Clarke, English actor, director, and producer (born 1947) Read more
- 2014 — Marge Roukema, American educator and politician (born 1929) Read more
- 2014 — Valery Senderov, Russian mathematician and academic (born 1945) Read more
- 2013 — Steve Rexe, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1947) Read more
- 2013 — Konrad Rudnicki, Polish astronomer and academic (born 1926) Read more
- 2013 — Aleksandr Serebrov, Russian engineer and astronaut (born 1944) Read more
- 2013 — John Tavener, English composer and educator (born 1944) Read more
- 2013 — Kurt Trampedach, Danish painter and sculptor (born 1943) Read more
- 2012 — Hans Hammarskiöld, Swedish photographer (born 1925) Read more
- 2012 — Sergio Oliva, Cuban-American bodybuilder (born 1941) Read more
- 2012 — Daniel Stern, American psychologist and theorist (born 1934) Read more
- 2010 — Henryk Górecki, Polish composer (born 1933) Read more
- 2008 — Catherine Baker Knoll, American educator and politician, 30th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania (born 1930) Read more
- 2008 — Mitch Mitchell, English drummer (born 1947) Read more
- 2007 — K. C. Ibrahim, Indian cricketer (born 1919) Read more
- 2007 — Ira Levin, American novelist, playwright, and songwriter (born 1929) Read more
- 2003 — Jonathan Brandis, American actor (born 1976) Read more
- 2003 — Cameron Duncan, New Zealand director and screenwriter (born 1986) Read more
- 2003 — Penny Singleton, American actress (born 1908) Read more
- 2003 — Tony Thompson, American drummer (born 1954) Read more
- 2001 — Albert Hague, German-American actor and composer (born 1920) Read more
- 2001 — Tony Miles, English chess player and theoretician (born 1955) Read more
- 2000 — Franck Pourcel, French conductor and composer (born 1913) Read more
- 1998 — Roy Hollis, English footballer (born 1925) Read more
- 1998 — Sally Shlaer, American mathematician and engineer (born 1938) Read more
- 1997 — Carlos Surinach, Spanish-American composer and conductor (born 1915) Read more
- 1994 — Wilma Rudolph, American sprinter and educator (born 1940) Read more
Holidays & observances
Birth of Sun Yat-Sen, also Doctors' Day and Cultural Renaissance Day. (Republic of China); Christian feast day:
Arsatius; Christian feast day:
Astrik (or Anastasius) of Pannonhalma; Christian feast day:
Cumméne Fota; Christian feast day:
Cunibert; Christian feast day:
Emilian of Cogolla; Christian feast day:
Imerius of Immertal; Christian feast day:
Josaphat Kuntsevych (Roman Catholic Church, Greek Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
Lebuinus (Liafwine); Christian feast day:
Livinus of Ghent; Christian feast day:
Machar; Christian feast day:
Margarito Flores García; Christian feast day:
Nilus of Sinai; Christian feast day:
Patiens; Christian feast day:
René d'Angers; Christian feast day:
Theodore the Studite; Christian feast day:
Ymar; Christian feast day:
November 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Constitution Day (Azerbaijan); Father's Day (Indonesia); National Health Day (Indonesia); National Youth Day (East Timor); World Pneumonia Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “November 12”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.