December 12 in history — What Happened Today in History
Curious what December 12 in history holds? From 2024 back through the centuries, our timeline gathers everything that happened on December 12 — events, birthdays and deaths on one cozy page.
On this page, December 12 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about December 12 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on December 12 in History 30
- 2024
Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju became the undisputed World Chess Champion in a tournament held in Singapore, making him the 18th and the youngest champion in chess history.
- 2021
Dutch Formula One racing driver Max Verstappen wins the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton to become the first Formula One World Champion to come from the Netherlands.
- 2015
The Paris Agreement relating to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is adopted.
- 2012
North Korea successfully launches its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2.
- 2001
Prime Minister of Vietnam Phan Văn Khải announces the decision on upgrading the Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng nature reserve to a national park, providing information on projects for the conservation and development of the park and revised maps.
- 2000
The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore.
- 1999
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits the Philippines's main island of Luzon, killing six people, injuring 40, and causing power outages that affected the capital Manila.
- 1988
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.
- 1985
Arrow Air Flight 1285R, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8, crashes after takeoff in Gander, Newfoundland, killing all 256 people on board, including 236 members of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division.
- 1979
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.
- 1979
Coup d'état of December Twelfth occurs in South Korea.
- 1969
The Piazza Fontana bombing; a bomb explodes at the headquarters of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura (the National Agricultural Bank) in Piazza Fontana in Milan, Italy, killing 17 people and wounding 88. The same afternoon, three more bombs are detonated in Rome and Milan, and another is found unexploded.
All entries for December 12（+18）
- 1963
Kenya declares independence from Great Britain.
- 1956
United Nations Security Council Resolution 121 relating to acceptance of Japan to the United Nations is adopted.
- 1946
United Nations Security Council Resolution 13 relating to acceptance of Siam (now Thailand) to the United Nations is adopted.
- 1945
The People's Republic of Korea is outlawed in the South, by order of the United States Army Military Government in Korea.
- 1941
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.
- 1941
The Holocaust: Adolf Hitler declares the imminent extermination of the Jews at a meeting in the Reich Chancellery.
- 1939
HMS Duchess sinks after a collision with HMS Barham off the coast of Scotland with the loss of 124 men.
- 1939
Winter War: The Battle of Tolvajärvi, also known as the first major Finnish victory in the Winter War, begins.
- 1937
Second Sino-Japanese War: USS Panay incident: Japanese aircraft bomb and sink U.S. gunboat USS Panay on the Yangtze river in China.
- 1936
The beginning of Xi'an incident. As a result, Chiang Kai Shek is captured.
- 1935
The Lebensborn Project, a Nazi reproduction program, is founded by Heinrich Himmler.
- 1917
Father Edward J. Flanagan founds Boys Town as a farm village for wayward boys.
- 1915
Yuan Shikai declares the establishment of the Empire of China and proclaims himself Emperor.
- 1901
Guglielmo Marconi receives the first transatlantic radio signal (the letter "S" [•••] in Morse Code), at Signal Hill in St John's, Newfoundland.
- 1870
Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina becomes the second black U.S. congressman.
- 1866
Oaks explosion: The worst mining disaster in England kills 361 miners and rescuers.
- 1862
American Civil War: USS Cairo sinks on the Yazoo River.
- 1787
Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the US Constitution.
Famous Birthdays on December 12 in History 25
- 2001
Michael Olise, French footballer
- 1997
Ed Oliver, American football player
- 1996
Lucas Hedges, American actor
- 1994
Otto Warmbier, American student imprisoned in North Korea (died 2017)
- 1993
Zeli Ismail, English footballer
- 1991
Shohjahon Ergashev, Uzbek professional boxer
- 1991
Joseph Leilua, Australian-Samoan rugby league player
- 1990
Nixon Chepseba, Kenyan runner
- 1990
Dawin, American singer-songwriter
- 1990
Victor Moses, Nigerian footballer
- 1990
Tyron Smith, American football player
- 1988
Isaac John, New Zealand rugby league player
All entries for December 12（+13）
- 1988
Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Israeli Olympic marathon runner
- 1986
Daddy Birori, Rwandan footballer
- 1986
Përparim Hetemaj, Finnish footballer
- 1986
Nina Kolarič, Slovenian long jumper
- 1986
Kirsikka Lansmann, German politician
- 1986
T. J. Ward, American football player
- 1985
Pat Calathes, Greek-American basketball player
- 1985
Andrew Ladd, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1984
Daniel Agger, Danish footballer
- 1983
Roni Porokara, Finnish footballer
- 1982
Ervin Santana, Dominican baseball player
- 1982
Dmitry Tursunov, Russian tennis player and coach
- 1981
Eddie Kingston, American wrestler
Notable Deaths on December 12 in History 25
- 2021
Vicente Fernández, Mexican actor, ranchera singer, and film producer (born 1940)
- 2021
Bernie Fowler, American politician and environmental advocate (born 1924)
- 2021
Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, Tongan politician and military officer, Deputy Prime Minister (born 1955)
- 2020
John le Carré, English author (born 1931)
- 2020
Ann Reinking, American actress, dancer, and choreographer (born 1949)
- 2019
Danny Aiello, American actor (born 1933)
- 2017
Ed Lee, American politician and attorney, 43rd Mayor of San Francisco (born 1952)
- 2017
Pat DiNizio, American singer and songwriter (born 1955)
- 2016
Shirley Hazzard, Australian-American novelist, short story writer, and essayist (born 1931)
- 2015
Frans Geurtsen, Dutch footballer (born 1942)
- 2015
Evelyn S. Lieberman, American politician, White House Deputy Chief of Staff (born 1944)
- 2014
Norman Bridwell, American author and illustrator, created Clifford the Big Red Dog (born 1928)
All entries for December 12（+13）
- 2014
Ivor Grattan-Guinness, English mathematician, historian, and academic (born 1941)
- 2014
Herb Plews, American baseball player (born 1928)
- 2013
Tom Laughlin, American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator, and activist (born 1931)
- 2013
Abdul Quader Molla, Bangladeshi journalist and politician (born 1948)
- 2013
Audrey Totter, American actress (born 1917)
- 2012
Joe Allbritton, American banker, publisher, and philanthropist, founded the Allbritton Communications Company (born 1924)
- 2012
David Tait, English rugby player (born 1987)
- 2010
Tom Walkinshaw, Scottish race car driver, founded Tom Walkinshaw Racing (born 1946)
- 2008
Avery Dulles, American cardinal and theologian (born 1918)
- 2008
Van Johnson, American actor (born 1916)
- 2007
François al-Hajj, Lebanese general (born 1953)
- 2007
Ike Turner, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1931)
- 2006
Paul Arizin, American basketball player (born 1928)
That is the story of December 12 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on December 12 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on December 12 in history?
The biggest event on December 12 in history is: 2024 — Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju became the undisputed World Chess Champion in a tournament held in Singapore, making him the 18th and the youngest champion in chess history.. In total, 30 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on December 12?
25 famous people were born on December 12 in history, the best known being 2001 — Michael Olise, French footballer.
Who died on December 12?
25 notable people died on December 12 in history, including 2021 — Vicente Fernández, Mexican actor, ranchera singer, and film producer (born 1940).
Why should I read about December 12 in history?
Exploring December 12 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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