March 12 in history — What Happened Today in History
March 12 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on March 12 in history, who was born on March 12 and who passed away on March 12, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, March 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 March 12 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on March 12 in History 36
- 2020
The United States suspends travel from Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
In the House of Commons, the revised EU Withdrawal Bill was rejected by a margin of 149 votes.
- 2018
US-Bangla Airlines Flight 211 crashes at Tribhuvan International Airport in Katmandu, killing 51 and injuring 20.
- 2014
A gas explosion in the New York City neighborhood of East Harlem kills eight and injures 70 others.
- 2011
A reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant explodes and releases radioactivity into the atmosphere a day after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
- 2009
Financier Bernie Madoff pleads guilty to one of the largest frauds in Wall Street's history.
- 2006
In Mahmoudiyah, Iraq, 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi is raped and murdered by five American soldiers of the 502nd Infantry Regiment, who also murder both of her parents and her sister.
- 2004
President of South Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, is impeached by its National Assembly, the first such impeachment in the nation's history.
- 2003
Zoran Đinđić, Prime Minister of Serbia, is assassinated in Belgrade.
- 2003
The World Health Organization officially release a global warning of outbreaks of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
- 1999
Former Warsaw Pact members the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join NATO.
- 1993
Several bombs explode in Mumbai, India, killing about 300 people and injuring hundreds more.
All entries for March 12（+24）
- 1993
North Korea announces that it will withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and refuses to allow inspectors access to its nuclear sites.
- 1992
Mauritius becomes a republic while remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
- 1989
Tim Berners-Lee submits his proposal to CERN for an information management system, which subsequently develops into the World Wide Web.
- 1971
The 1971 Turkish military memorandum is sent to the Süleyman Demirel government of Turkey and the government resigns.
- 1968
Mauritius gains independence from the United Kingdom.
- 1967
Suharto takes power from Sukarno when the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly inaugurate him as Acting President of Indonesia.
- 1950
The Llandow air disaster kills 80 people when the aircraft they are travelling in crashes near Sigingstone, Wales. At the time this was the world's deadliest air disaster.
- 1947
Cold War: The Truman Doctrine is proclaimed to help stem the spread of Communism.
- 1942
The Battle of Java ends with the surrender of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command to the Empire of Japan in Bandung, West Java, Dutch East Indies.
- 1940
Winter War: Finland signs the Moscow Peace Treaty with the Soviet Union, ceding almost all of Finnish Karelia.
- 1940
The most destructive train accident in Finnish history kills 39 and injures 69 people in Turenki, Janakkala.
- 1938
Anschluss: German troops occupy and annex Austria.
- 1933
Great Depression: Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses the nation for the first time as President of the United States. This is also the first of his "fireside chats".
- 1930
Mahatma Gandhi begins the Salt March, a 200-mile (320 km) march to the sea to protest the British monopoly on salt in India.
- 1928
In California, the St. Francis Dam fails; the resulting floods kill 431 people.
- 1920
The Kapp Putsch begins when the Marinebrigade Ehrhardt is ordered to march on Berlin.
- 1918
Moscow becomes the capital of Russia again after Saint Petersburg held this status for most of the period since 1713.
- 1913
The future capital of Australia is officially named Canberra.
- 1912
The Girl Guides (later renamed the Girl Scouts of the USA) are founded in the United States.
- 1862
Paddle steamer Brother Jonathan docks in Fort Victoria (now Victoria, British Columbia), carrying smallpox-infected passengers from San Francisco. The ensuing epidemic killed an estimated two-thirds of First Nations in the province of British Columbia.
- 1811
Peninsular War: A day after a successful rearguard action, French Marshal Michel Ney once again successfully delays the pursuing Anglo-Portuguese force at the Battle of Redinha.
- 1689
James II of England lands at Kinsale, starting the Williamite War in Ireland.
- 1622
Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, founders of the Society of Jesus, are canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.
- 1579
Start of the Siege of Maastricht, part of the Eighty Years' War.
Famous Birthdays on March 12 in History 25
- 2008
Emma Kok, Dutch singer
- 2004
DannyLux, American singer-songwriter
- 2003
Andrea Brillantes, Filipino actress and model
- 2003
Malina Weissman, American actress and model
- 2001
Max Duggan, American football player
- 2001
Kim Min-kyu, South Korean singer and actor
- 1998
Carsen Edwards, American basketball player
- 1998
Mecole Hardman, American football player
- 1998
Daniel Samohin, Israeli figure skater
- 1998
Elizaveta Ukolova, Czech figure skater
- 1997
Dean Henderson, English footballer
- 1997
Allan Saint-Maximin, French footballer
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- 1997
Felipe Vizeu, Brazilian footballer
- 1996
Serhou Guirassy, French-Guinean footballer
- 1996
Karim Hafez, Egyptian footballer
- 1996
Robert Murić, Croatian footballer
- 1996
Cene Prevc, Slovenian ski jumper
- 1994
Katie Archibald, Scottish track cyclist
- 1994
Jerami Grant, American basketball player
- 1994
Christina Grimmie, American singer-songwriter (died 2016)
- 1994
Tyler Patrick Jones, American actor
- 1993
Shehu Abdullahi, Nigerian footballer
- 1993
Amjad Attwan, Iraqi footballer
- 1992
Daniele Baselli, Italian footballer
- 1992
Jordan Ferri, French footballer
Notable Deaths on March 12 in History 25
- 2022
Gertraud Gruber, German beautician and businesswoman (born 1921)
- 2021
Ronald DeFeo Jr., American criminal (born 1951)
- 2016
Rafiq Azad, Bangladeshi poet and author (born 1942)
- 2016
Felix Ibru, Nigerian architect and politician, Governor of Delta State (born 1935)
- 2016
Lloyd Shapley, American mathematician and economist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1923)
- 2015
Willie Barrow, American minister and activist (born 1924)
- 2015
Michael Graves, American architect and academic, designed the Portland Building and the Humana Building (born 1934)
- 2015
Ada Jafri, Pakistani poet and author (born 1924)
- 2015
Terry Pratchett, English journalist, author, and screenwriter (born 1948)
- 2014
Věra Chytilová, Czech actress, director, and screenwriter (born 1929)
- 2014
Paul C. Donnelly, American scientist and engineer (born 1923)
- 2014
José Policarpo, Portuguese cardinal (born 1936)
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- 2013
Michael Grigsby, English director and producer (born 1936)
- 2013
Ganesh Pyne, Indian painter and illustrator (born 1937)
- 2012
Dick Harter, American basketball player and coach (born 1930)
- 2012
Michael Hossack, American drummer (born 1946)
- 2012
Friedhelm Konietzka, German-Swiss footballer and manager (born 1938)
- 2011
Nilla Pizzi, Italian singer (born 1919)
- 2010
Miguel Delibes, Spanish journalist and author (born 1920)
- 2008
Jorge Guinzburg, Argentinian journalist and producer (born 1949)
- 2008
Lazare Ponticelli, Italian-French soldier and supercentenarian (born 1897)
- 2006
Victor Sokolov, Russian-American priest and journalist (born 1947)
- 2004
Milton Resnick, Russian-American painter (born 1917)
- 2003
Zoran Đinđić, Serbian philosopher and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Serbia (born 1952)
- 2003
Howard Fast, American novelist and screenwriter (born 1914)
That is the story of March 12 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on March 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 March 12 in history?
The biggest event on March 12 in history is: 2020 — The United States suspends travel from Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.. In total, 36 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on March 12?
25 famous people were born on March 12 in history, the best known being 2008 — Emma Kok, Dutch singer.
Who died on March 12?
25 notable people died on March 12 in history, including 2022 — Gertraud Gruber, German beautician and businesswoman (born 1921).
Why should I read about March 12 in history?
Exploring March 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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