Historical Events on April 12

  • 1776: The North Carolina Provincial Congress authorizes its delegation to vote for independence from Great Britain.
  • 1807: The magazine of Fort Ricasoli is blown up by mutineers, thereby ending the Froberg Mutiny.
  • 1831: The Broughton Suspension Bridge in Manchester, England collapse when soldiers march on it.
  • 1861: In Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, the American Civil War officially begins when Confederate forces fire upon Fort Sumter.
  • 1862: The Andrews Raid begins during the American Civil War.
  • 1864: At the Battle of Fort Pillow during the American Civil War, most of the African-American soldiers that surrendered were killed by Confederate forces.
  • 1865: During the American Civil War, the Union Army seizes Mobile, Alabama.
  • 1917: Vimy Ridge is seized from the Germans by Canadian forces during World War I.
  • 1945:S Vice President Harry Truman becomes the President of the United States when President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office.
  • 1945: The United States 9th Army led by General William H. Simpson reaches Tangermunde – which is just fifty miles away from Berlin.
  • 1955: The polio vaccine is declared safe.
  • 1970: A Soviet K-8 submarine sinks in the Bay of Biscay just 4-days after a fire erupted on board. This submarine was carrying 4 nuclear-armed torpedoes.
  • 1981: The Space Shuttle Columbia is launched during the STS-1 Mission.
  • 1992: The Euro Disney Resort and Euro Disneyland open up. Its name would eventually be changed to Disneyland Paris.
  • 1999: In a civil lawsuit, U.S President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court. He would later be given a fine and disbarred.

Famous Birthdays on April 12

  • American author and historian, Tom Clancy is born in 1947.
  • American businessman Woody Johnson is born in 1947.
  • American actor Dan Lauria is born in 1947.
  • American comedian and TV talk show host, David Letterman is born in 1947.
  • American actor Nicholas Brendon is born in 1971.
  • American actress Shannen Doherty is born in 1971.
  • Australian actress Belinda Emmett is born in 1974.
  • American actress Marley Shelton is born in 1974.