What Happened on Jan 12

John Hancock Is Born

January 12 marks the birth of John Hancock (1737-93), often remembered for his bold signature to the Declaration of Independence. President of the... Read more

Padre Thomas Peña Founds Mission Santa Clara De Asís

The first mission to be built to honor a woman, the outpost was originally established as La Misión Santa Clara de Thamien (or Mission Santa Clara... Read more

Étienne Lenoir is born

Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir was a Belgian engineer who developed the internal combustion engine in 1859. Prior designs for such engines were... Read more

Schoolhouse Blizzard

In one (blizzard) which visited Dakota and the States of Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas in January, 1888, the mercury fell within... Read more

Minnie Pit Disaster

In the Minnie pit at Halmerend, North Staffordshire , on January 12 th 1918 the conditions prevailing at the time were, begging disaster. A... Read more

Western Air Express Flight 7 Crashes, Killing 5

On January 12, 1937, shortly after 11 a.m. in adverse weather, Western Air Express Flight 7 crashed into a ridge below Los Pinetos Peak near the... Read more

"The Shop Around The Corner" Is Released

The Shop Around the Corner (1940) is a romantic comedy film, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, and starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. The... Read more

Operation Iskra

Operation Iskra (Russian: Операция Искра, Operatsia Iskra; English translation - Operation Spark) was a Soviet military operation conducted by the... Read more

"Shadow Of A Doubt" Is Released

Shadow of a Doubt is a 1943 thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and written by Thornton Wilder, Sally Benson and Alma Reville. It stars Teresa... Read more

Vistula–Oder Offensive

The Vistula-Oder Offensive was a successful Red Army operation on the Eastern Front in the European Theatre of World War II; it took place between... Read more

Malcolm X is arrested for burglary

In late 1945, Little returned to Boston. With a group of associates, he began a series of elaborate burglaries targeting the residences of wealthy... Read more

Mahatma Gandhi Announces Fast to End Hindu/Muslim Violence in Delhi

He conducted extensive dialogue with Muslim and Hindu community leaders, working to cool passions in northern India, as well as in Bengal. Despite... Read more

Howard Stern Is Born

Howard Allan Stern was born to Ben and Ray Stern on January 12, 1954. He has one sister, Ellen. He grew up in Roosevelt, Long Island, and... Read more

Operation Chopper

Operation Chopper occurred on January 12, 1962 and was the first time US forces participated in major combat in the Vietnam War. In December of... Read more

Led Zeppelin releases self-titled debut album

Led Zeppelin is the debut album of English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded in October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London and released on... Read more

Super Bowl III - Jets16, Colts 7

Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"... Read more

Alice Cooper releases Love It to Death

Love It to Death is a 1971 album by Alice Cooper. Hits include "Ballad of Dwight Fry", "Is It My Body", and one of Cooper's trademark songs, "I'm... Read more

Super Bowl IX - Steelers 16, Vikings 6

Super Bowl IX was an American football game played on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football... Read more

Agatha Christie dies

In late 1926 Agatha's husband Archie revealed that he was in love with another woman, Nancy Neele, and wanted a divorce. On 3 December 1926 the... Read more

"Danton" Is Released

Danton is a 1983 French language film depicting the last months of Georges Danton, one of the leaders of the French Revolution. It is an adaptation... Read more

'The Butter Battle Book' is Published

The Butter Battle Book is a rhyming story written by Dr. Seuss. It was published by Random House Books for Young Readers on January 12, 1984. It is... Read more

Deep Purple release The House of Blue Light

The House of Blue Light is the twelfth studio album by Deep Purple, released in 1987. It is the second recording by the re-formed Mark II... Read more

"Internal Affairs" Is Released

Internal Affairs is a 1990 American crime thriller film set in Los Angeles about the police department's Internal Affairs Division. Directed by... Read more

Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love Meet

Love met Kurt Cobain on January 12, 1990, in Portland's Satyricon nightclub before fame hit, when the two led underground rock bands. Love made... Read more

"The Match Factory Girl" Is Released

The Match Factory Girl (Finnish: Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö) is a 1990 Finnish/Swedish comedy-drama film written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki. The... Read more