
Telephone patented by Bell
Alexander Graham Bell received US Patent 174465 for telephone apparatus.
Monday 12 October 2026
What happened, who was born, who we lost — plus today's horoscope for every sign.
Birthday twins
Laura Prepon1980
Rachel Weisz1970
Bryan Cranston1956
Piet Mondrian1872Events, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.

Alexander Graham Bell received US Patent 174465 for telephone apparatus.
Showing 1 event
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Alexander Graham Bell is granted a patent for an invention he calls the "telephone".
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
The University of Paris issues the last in a series of condemnations of various philosophical and theological theses.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
The German submarine U-47, one of the most successful U-boats of World War II, disappeared with 45 men on board.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
The German ocean liner SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse became the first ship to send a wireless telegraph message to an onshore receiver.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Massereene Barracks shooting: The Real Irish Republican Army kills two British soldiers and injures two other soldiers and two civilians at Massereene Barracks, the first British military deaths in Northern Ireland since the end of The Troubles.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The New York Times Archives — On This Day
Following is a transcript of President Bush's address last night to a joint session of Congress, and House Speaker Th…
Read on NYTimes.com →Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
Viewing 7 March — today is 12 October.
Dutch abstract painter Piet Mondrian was born, known for grid paintings with primary colours.
Bryan Cranston was born. American actor.
Rachel Weisz was born. English actress.
Laura Prepon was born. American actress.
Five infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →

John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.

Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.

Heath Ledger, actor, died on this day in 2008. Accidental prescription drug overdose. Remembered as: Acclaimed performances, including the Joker in The Dark Knight.

Prince, musician, died on this day in 2016. Fentanyl overdose. Remembered as: Innovative artist known for his eclectic work and flamboyant stage presence.

Vincent van Gogh, painter, died on this day in 1890. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Post-Impressionist whose work deeply influenced 20th-century art.
Today · 7 March
Coming up this week
Honors the invention and enduring popularity of breakfast cereals.
Music · No.1 on this day
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Finals, medals and records decided on 7 March.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
2001 25 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
Learn, laugh, connect with history. Free daily email 7am. 1,000s of searchable events.