Today In History. What Happened This Day In History
A Timeline Of Events That Occurred On This Day In History
A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.
Today in History
August 12
| 1099 | At the Battle of Ascalon 1,000 Crusaders, led by Godfrey of Bouillon, route an Egyptian relief column heading for Jerusalem, which had already fallen to the Crusaders. | |
| 1687 | At the Battle of Mohacs, Hungary, Charles of Lorraine defeats the Turks. | |
| 1762 | The British capture Cuba from Spain after a two month siege. | |
| 1791 | Black slaves on the island of Santo Domingo rise up against their white masters. | |
| 1812 | British commander the Duke of Wellington occupies Madrid, Spain, forcing out Joseph Bonaparte. | |
| 1863 | Confederate raider William Quantrill leads a massacre of 150 men and boys in Lawrence, Kansas. | |
| 1864 | After a week of heavy raiding, the Confederate cruiser Tallahassee claims six Union ships captured. | |
| 1896 | Gold is discovered near Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada. After word reaches the United States in June of 1897, thousands of Americans head to the Klondike to seek their fortunes. | |
| 1898 | The Spanish American War officially ends after three months and 22 days of hostilities. | |
| 1908 | Henry Ford's first Model T rolls off the assembly line. | |
| 1922 | The home of Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C. is dedicated as a memorial. | |
| 1935 | President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security Bill. | |
| 1941 | French Marshal Henri Philippe Petain announces full French collaboration with Nazi Germany. | |
| 1961 | The erection of the Berlin Wall begins, preventing access between East and West Germany. | |
| 1969 | American installations at Quan-Loi, Vietnam, come under Viet Cong attack. | |
| 1972 | As U.S. troops leave Vietnam, B-52's make their largest strike of the war. | |
| 1977 | Steven Biko, leader of the black consciousness movement in South Africa, is arrested. | |
| 1992 | The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is concluded between the United States, Canada and Mexico, creating the world's wealthiest trade bloc. | |
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Born on August 12 |
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| 1762 | George IV, named Prince Regent in 1810 when his father, George III, is declared insane. | |
| 1774 | Robert Southey, English poet laureate (1813-1843). | |
| 1781 | Robert Mills, architect and engineer whose designs include the Washington Monument, the National Portrait Gallery and the U.S. Treasury Building. | |
| 1859 | Katherine Bates, composer of "America the Beautiful." | |
| 1881 | Cecil B. DeMille, American film director, producer and screenwriter, famous for epic productions. | |
| 1889 | Zerna Sharp, creator of the "Dick and Jane" reading books. | |
| 1911 | Cantinflas, Mexican circus clown, acrobat and actor. | |
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