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On This Day · The 12th day of the year

January 12

A look at January 12 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Ruth R. Benerito and Étienne Lenoir, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneGarnet ❀Birth flowerCarnation
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2010

    2010 Haiti earthquake

    An earthquake in Haiti occurs, killing between 220,000 and 300,000 people and destroying much of the capital Port-au-Prince.

    Magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake
  2. 2007

    Comet McNaught

    Comet C/2006 P1 (McNaught), one of the brightest comets ever observed is at its zenith visible during the day.

    Great Comet of 2007
  3. 1967

    James Bedford

    Dr. James Bedford becomes the first person to be cryonically preserved with intent of future resuscitation.

    American psychologist (1893–1967)
  4. 1964

    Zanzibar

    Rebels in Zanzibar begin a revolt known as the Zanzibar Revolution and proclaim a republic.

    Semi-autonomous region of Tanzania
  5. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the National War Labor Board.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1918

    Minnie Pit Disaster

    The Minnie Pit Disaster coal mining accident occurs in Halmer End, Staffordshire, in which 155 men and boys die.

    1918 coal mining accident
  7. 1916

    Oswald Boelcke

    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.

    German World War I
  8. 1895

    National Trust

    The National Trust is founded in the United Kingdom.

    Conservation organisation in England,
  9. 1808

    John Rennie the Elder

    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.

    Scottish civil engineer (1761–1821)
  10. 1554

    Bayinnaung

    Bayinnaung, who would go on to assemble the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, is crowned King of Burma.

    Emperor of the Toungoo
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Famous birthday twins

Born on January 12

Ruth R. Benerito

b. 1916

American chemist and inventor

Étienne Lenoir

b. 1822

Belgian engineer, designed the internal combustion engine

Luise Rainer

b. 1910

German-English actress

Emre Can

b. 1994

German footballer

David Mitchell (author)

b. 1969

English novelist

Ottmar Hitzfeld

b. 1949

German footballer and manager

Jack London

b. 1876

American novelist and journalist

Swami Vivekananda

b. 1863

Indian monk and philosopher

Deaths

  • 2017Graham Taylor, English football player and manager
  • 1996Joachim Nitsche, German mathematician and academic
  • 1977Henri-Georges Clouzot, French director and screenwriter
  • 1976Agatha Christie, English crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright
  • 1909Hermann Minkowski, Lithuanian-German mathematician and academic
  • 1665Pierre de Fermat, French mathematician and lawyer

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)

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