April 12 stands as a significant date in history, marked by a range of pivotal events across centuries. From the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 to humanity’s first venture into space with Yuri Gagarin in 1961, this day encapsulates profound shifts in global narratives. What other transformative moments occurred on this date? Uncover the layers of history that continue to shape our world.
History
Major Historical Events
1861 – American Civil War Begins: On this day, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, marking the start of the American Civil War. This conflict between the northern Union states and the southern Confederate states would last four years and reshape the United States.
1955 – Polio Vaccine Declared Safe and Effective: Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was announced as safe and effective, a monumental step in public health. This breakthrough virtually eradicated the crippling disease in many parts of the world.
1961 – First Human Spaceflight: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1. His historic 108-minute flight orbited Earth, marking a significant achievement in the Space Race.
1981 – First Space Shuttle Launch: NASA launched the Space Shuttle Columbia, the first reusable spacecraft, on mission STS-1. This event ushered in a new era of space exploration with reusable orbiters.
1999 – President Bill Clinton Cited for Contempt: U.S. President Bill Clinton was cited for contempt of court for giving misleading testimony in the Paula Jones lawsuit, becoming the first sitting president to receive such a citation.
Famous Birthdays
1947 – David Letterman: American television host and comedian David Letterman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He became a household name as the host of “Late Night with David Letterman” and later “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
1956 – Andy Garcia: Cuban-American actor Andy Garcia was born in Havana, Cuba. Known for roles in films like “The Godfather Part III” and “Ocean’s Eleven,” Garcia has earned acclaim for his versatile performances.
1971 – Shannen Doherty: American actress Shannen Doherty was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She gained fame for her roles in the television series “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed.”
1994 – Saoirse Ronan: Irish-American actress Saoirse Ronan was born in The Bronx, New York. She has received critical acclaim for her performances in films like “Atonement,” “Lady Bird,” and “Little Women.”
Notable Deaths
1945 – Franklin D. Roosevelt: Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia. His death came just months into his fourth term, during the final stages of World War II.
1989 – Sugar Ray Robinson: Legendary American boxer Sugar Ray Robinson passed away in Culver City, California. Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he held world titles in both welterweight and middleweight divisions.
2017 – Charlie Murphy: American actor and comedian Charlie Murphy died in New York City. Known for his work on “Chappelle’s Show” and as the older brother of Eddie Murphy, he left a lasting mark on comedy.
Today in Music History
1954 – Bill Haley Records “Rock Around the Clock”: Bill Haley & His Comets recorded the iconic song “Rock Around the Clock” in New York City. This track is often credited with popularizing rock and roll music worldwide.
1971 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Release “4 Way Street”: The folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released their live album “4 Way Street,” which became a major commercial success and captured their harmonious sound.
1989 – Garth Brooks Releases Debut Album: Country music star Garth Brooks released his self-titled debut album, launching a career that would make him one of the best-selling artists in music history.
2006 – Paul McCartney Becomes a Billionaire: On this day, reports confirmed that former Beatle Paul McCartney had officially joined the billionaire club, largely due to his music catalog and successful tours.
Today in Sports History
1965 – Jim Hines Sets 100-Yard Dash Record: American sprinter Jim Hines set a world record in the 100-yard dash with a time of 9.1 seconds during a meet in Sacramento, California, a mark that stood for years.
1980 – Terry Fox Begins Marathon of Hope: Canadian athlete and cancer survivor Terry Fox started his Marathon of Hope in St. John’s, Newfoundland, running across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
1992 – Euro Disney Opens: Euro Disney, now known as Disneyland Paris, officially opened in Marne-la-Vallée, France, bringing Disney magic to Europe despite initial financial struggles.
Today in Military and Naval History
1861 – Fort Sumter Bombardment: Confederate forces began bombarding Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, igniting the American Civil War in a pivotal military engagement.
1917 – Battle of Vimy Ridge Ends: The Canadian Corps successfully concluded the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France during World War I, capturing a strategic position from German forces in a defining moment for Canadian military history.
1945 – USS Mannert L. Abele Sunk: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mannert L. Abele was sunk by a Japanese kamikaze attack off Okinawa during World War II, resulting in the loss of 84 crew members.
Today in Tech and Science History
1961 – Yuri Gagarin’s Spaceflight: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, completing a single orbit around Earth in the Vostok 1 spacecraft in a landmark achievement for science and exploration.
1981 – Space Shuttle Columbia Launch: NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia launched on its first mission, STS-1, becoming the first reusable spacecraft to carry humans into orbit and return safely.
1994 – First Internet Spam Message Sent: Two lawyers from Arizona sent the first widely recognized internet spam message, advertising their services to thousands of Usenet groups, marking an infamous moment in digital history.
Today in Art, Literature, and Culture
1823 – First Performance of Rossini’s “Semiramide” in Paris: Italian composer Gioachino Rossini’s opera “Semiramide” premiered in Paris, enthralling audiences with its dramatic storytelling and intricate music.
1955 – “Marty” Wins Best Picture at Oscars: The film “Marty,” starring Ernest Borgnine, won Best Picture at the 28th Academy Awards, becoming one of the first small-budget films to achieve such recognition.
1992 – Euro Disney Opening Ceremony: The grand opening of Euro Disney (now Disneyland Paris) took place, blending American pop culture with European sensibilities in a historic cultural crossover.
2013 – “Kinky Boots” Opens on Broadway: The musical “Kinky Boots,” with music by Cyndi Lauper, premiered on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, later winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Funny & Weird Historical Facts
1930 – First Recorded Use of “OK” in Print: The term “OK” was first used in print in the Boston Morning Post as a humorous abbreviation for “oll korrect,” a playful misspelling of “all correct.”
1988 – Harvard Awards “Ig Nobel” Prizes: Though not the official start, early precursors to the Ig Nobel Prizes, celebrating unusual scientific achievements, were discussed on this day, paving the way for the quirky annual awards.
2007 – Snail Mail Record Attempt: A bizarre attempt to send the slowest “snail mail” was recorded when a letter, originally mailed in 1914, finally arrived in the UK after being lost for nearly a century.
Today in History for Kids
1961 – A Man Goes to Space: Yuri Gagarin, a brave astronaut from Russia, became the first person to fly into space. He zoomed around Earth in a tiny spacecraft called Vostok 1, showing everyone that humans could explore the stars.
1981 – A Reusable Spaceship Takes Off: The Space Shuttle Columbia blasted into space for the first time. Unlike other rockets, this one could come back and be used again, just like a school bus for astronauts.
1955 – A Super Vaccine Saves Lives: A special medicine called the polio vaccine was shared with the world. It stopped a scary sickness that made kids sick, and now almost no one gets polio anymore.
1861 – A Big Fight Starts in America: A long time ago, a huge argument turned into a war called the American Civil War. It started when soldiers attacked a fort called Fort Sumter, and it changed the country forever.
Today in History Trivia & Interesting Facts
1861 – Fort Sumter’s Unique Role: The attack on Fort Sumter that started the American Civil War was significant because no one died during the initial bombardment, though two Union soldiers perished later due to an accidental explosion.
1961 – Yuri Gagarin’s Secret Mission: During his historic spaceflight, Yuri Gagarin’s mission was kept so secret that even his family didn’t know he was going to space until after he safely returned to Earth.
1955 – Polio Vaccine’s Rapid Impact: Within just a few years of the polio vaccine’s release on this day, cases of the disease dropped by over 90% in the United States, showcasing one of the fastest public health victories in history.
1981 – Space Shuttle’s Risky First Flight: The first Space Shuttle mission, Columbia’s STS-1, was so experimental that NASA considered it a test flight with a high risk of failure, yet it succeeded beyond expectations.
1999 – Clinton’s Legal Milestone: Bill Clinton’s contempt citation on this day marked the first time a sitting U.S. president was held in contempt of court, adding a rare legal footnote to presidential history.