January 12 in history — What Happened Today in History

Persian Gulf War: An act of the U.S. Congress authorizes the use of American military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.

A seven-day pogrom breaks out against the Armenian civilian population of Baku, Azerbaijan, during which Armenians were beaten, tortured, murdered, and expelled from the city.

Space Shuttle program: Congressman and future NASA Administrator Bill Nelson lifts off from Kennedy Space Center aboard Columbia on mission STS-61-C as a payload specialist.

The United Nations Security Council votes 11–1 to allow the Palestine Liberation Organization to participate in a Security Council debate (without voting rights).

The Harrisburg Seven: Rev. Philip Berrigan and five other activists are indicted on charges of conspiring to kidnap Henry Kissinger and of plotting to blow up the heating tunnels of federal buildings in Washington, D.C.

Biafra capitulates, ending the Nigerian Civil War.

The New York Jets of the American Football League defeat the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League to win Super Bowl III in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

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

Lyndon B. Johnson states that the United States should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there is ended.

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

Vietnam War: Operation Chopper, the first American combat mission and first American helicopter assault in the war, takes place.

A Martin 2-0-2 and Douglas DC-3 collide over Boone County, Kentucky, killing 15 people.

World War II: The Red Army begins the Vistula–Oder Offensive.

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

Casas Viejas incident: 22 peasants killed by the Security and Assault Corps in Casas Viejas, Spain.

Hattie Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate.

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

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.

The United States House of Representatives rejects a proposed constitutional amendment to require states to give women the right to vote.

The University of the Philippines College of Law is established.

The National Trust is founded in the United Kingdom.

Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first imperial coronation in that city in over 200 years.

The Royal Aeronautical Society is formed in London.

The Palermo rising takes place in Sicily against the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

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.

The organizational meeting leading to the creation of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, is held in Edinburgh.

Federalist Thomas Pinckney appointed first U.S. minister to Britain.

The city of Belém, Brazil is founded on the Amazon River delta by Portuguese captain Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco.

Emre Can, German footballer

Jamel Artis, American basketball player

D.O., South Korean singer

Zayn Malik, English singer

Simone Pecorini, Italian footballer

Ishak Belfodil, Algerian footballer

Samuele Longo, Italian footballer

Pixie Lott, English singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress

Raquel Rodriguez, American wrestler

Matt Srama, Australian rugby league player

Alex Wood, American baseball player

Thiemo-Jérôme Kialka, German footballer

Axel Witsel, Belgian footballer

Carl Long, American baseball player (born 1935)

Elena Obraztsova, Russian soprano and actress (born 1939)

Inge Vermeulen, Brazilian-Dutch field hockey player (born 1985)

Alexandra Bastedo, English actress (born 1946)

Connie Binsfeld, American educator and politician, 58th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (born 1924)

George Dement, American soldier, businessman, and politician (born 1922)

Precious Bryant, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1942)

Flor María Chalbaud, First Lady of Venezuela (born 1921)

Eugene Patterson, American journalist and activist (born 1923)

Bjørn G. Andersen, Norwegian geologist and academic (born 1924)

Glenda Dickerson, American director, choreographer, and educator (born 1945)

Bill Janklow, American lawyer and politician, 27th Governor of South Dakota (born 1939)

Charles H. Price II, American businessman and diplomat, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom (born 1931)