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On This Day · The 346th day of the year

December 12

A look at December 12 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Karl Bryullov and Frank Sinatra, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♐ZodiacSagittarius ◈BirthstoneTurquoise ❀Birth flowerHolly
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2012

    North Korea

    North Korea successfully launches its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2.

    Country in East Asia
  2. 2000

    Supreme Court of the United States

    The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore.

    Highest court of jurisdiction
  3. 1988

    Clapham Junction rail crash

    The Clapham Junction rail crash kills thirty-five and injures hundreds after two collisions of three commuter trains—one of the worst train crashes in the United Kingdom.

    1988 rail crash in
  4. 1979

    1979 Tumaco earthquake

    The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami.

    Earthquake near Colombia and
  5. 1963

    Kenya

    Kenya declares independence from Great Britain.

    Country in East Africa
  6. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: Fifty-four Japanese A6M Zero fighters raid Batangas Field, Philippines. Jesús Villamor and four Filipino fighter pilots fend them off; César Basa is killed.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1941

    The Holocaust

    The Holocaust: Adolf Hitler declares the imminent extermination of the Jews at a meeting in the Reich Chancellery.

    Genocide of European Jews
  8. 1866

    Oaks explosion

    Oaks explosion: The worst mining disaster in England kills 361 miners and rescuers.

    1866 British mining disaster
  9. 1787

    Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the US Constitution.

    U.S. state
  10. 627

    Battle of Nineveh (627)

    Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II's Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh.

    Battle during the Byzantine–Sasanian
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 12

Karl Bryullov

b. 1799

Russian painter

Frank Sinatra

b. 1915

American singer, actor, and producer

Edvard Munch

b. 1863

Norwegian painter

Gustave Flaubert

b. 1821

French novelist

Tracy Austin

b. 1962

American tennis player and sportscaster

Rajinikanth

b. 1950

Indian actor

Martina Hellmann

b. 1960

German discus thrower

Adolf Bötticher

b. 1842

German journalist and historian

Deaths

  • 2021Vicente Fernández, Mexican actor, ranchera singer, and film producer
  • 1997Evgenii Landis, Ukrainian-Russian mathematician and academic
  • 1939Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., American actor, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1921Henrietta Swan Leavitt, American astronomer and academic
  • 1766Johann Christoph Gottsched, German philosopher, author, and critic
  • 1204Maimonides, Jewish physician, philosopher, and scholar (born 1135 or 1138)

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Corentin of Quimper
  • —Christian feast day: Jane Frances de Chantal
  • —Christian feast day: Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet
  • —Christian feast day: Finnian of Clonard
  • —Christian feast day: Thomas Holland
  • —Christian feast day: Ida of Nivelles
  • —Christian feast day: Peter the Aleut
  • —Christian feast day: Vicelinus

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