1912Battle
Battle event - February 12
Historic battle event recorded on this date in 1912, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
Tuesday 13 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Birth of Abraham Lincoln (1809) and Christina Ricci born (1980), 171 years apart.
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From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Its copper-based blood detects bacteria — and pharma bleeds it.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Miners Refuse to Work After DeathHall of Fame◆
- 1968Judging of 2,580 Dogs at Westminster Kennel Club Show Will Begin TodayThe New York Times◆
- 2024Canada: second Sikh activist’s house hit by gunfire this monthThe Guardian◆
- 2017Victories for Indigenous people are always short-lived. That's why we need a treaty – nowThe Guardian◆
- 1689The Convention Parliament declares that the flight to France in 1688 by James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch, constitutes an abdication.Wikipedia◆
- 2016In the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba.Wikipedia◆
- 2016Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sign an Ecumenical Declaration in the first such meeting between leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches since their split in 1054.Wikipedia◆
- 1894Ère des attentats: In one of the first acts of modern terrorism, Émile Henry threw a bomb into Café Terminus in Paris, France, killing one person and injuring 17 more.Wikipedia◆
- 1855The precursor of Michigan State University in East Lansing was founded as the United States' first agricultural college.Wikipedia◆
- 1894Café Terminus bombing by Émile Henry during the Ère des attentats (1892–1894). This is considered one of the first acts of modern terrorism.Wikipedia◆
- 1825The Creek cede the last of their lands in Georgia to the United States government by the Treaty of Indian Springs, and migrate west.Wikipedia◆
- 1404The Italian professor Galeazzo di Santa Sofia performs the first post-mortem autopsy for the purposes of teaching and demonstration at the Heiligen–Geist Spital in Vienna.Wikipedia◆
- 1096Pope Urban II confirms the foundation of the abbey of La Roë under Robert of Arbrissel as a community of canons regular.Wikipedia◆
- 1059Upon reaching Rome, Bruno of Toul is elected as pope Leo IX and starts initiating reforms.Wikipedia◆
- Miners Refuse to Work After DeathHall of Fame◆
- 1968Judging of 2,580 Dogs at Westminster Kennel Club Show Will Begin TodayThe New York Times◆
- 2024Canada: second Sikh activist’s house hit by gunfire this monthThe Guardian◆
- 2017Victories for Indigenous people are always short-lived. That's why we need a treaty – nowThe Guardian◆
- 1689The Convention Parliament declares that the flight to France in 1688 by James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch, constitutes an abdication.Wikipedia◆
- 2016In the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba.Wikipedia◆
- 2016Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sign an Ecumenical Declaration in the first such meeting between leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches since their split in 1054.Wikipedia◆
- 1894Ère des attentats: In one of the first acts of modern terrorism, Émile Henry threw a bomb into Café Terminus in Paris, France, killing one person and injuring 17 more.Wikipedia◆
- 1855The precursor of Michigan State University in East Lansing was founded as the United States' first agricultural college.Wikipedia◆
- 1894Café Terminus bombing by Émile Henry during the Ère des attentats (1892–1894). This is considered one of the first acts of modern terrorism.Wikipedia◆
- 1825The Creek cede the last of their lands in Georgia to the United States government by the Treaty of Indian Springs, and migrate west.Wikipedia◆
- 1404The Italian professor Galeazzo di Santa Sofia performs the first post-mortem autopsy for the purposes of teaching and demonstration at the Heiligen–Geist Spital in Vienna.Wikipedia◆
- 1096Pope Urban II confirms the foundation of the abbey of La Roë under Robert of Arbrissel as a community of canons regular.Wikipedia◆
- 1059Upon reaching Rome, Bruno of Toul is elected as pope Leo IX and starts initiating reforms.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Christina Ricci1980- Birth event - February 121912
- Abraham Lincoln1809
- Charles Darwin1809
12 February in history
5 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
1912Invention
Invention event - February 12
Historic invention event recorded on this date in 1912, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1912Medical
Medical event - February 12
Historic medical event recorded on this date in 1912, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1912Tragedy
Tragedy event - February 12
Historic tragedy event recorded on this date in 1912, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1973Science
First DNA cloning experiment
Boyer and Cohen first successful DNA cloning experiment announced.
Showing 1-5 of 5 events
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — February 12
1689 Oddly trueThe Convention Parliament declares that the flight to France in 1688 by James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch, constitutes an abdication.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2016 First everIn the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2016 First everPope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sign an Ecumenical Declaration in the first such meeting between leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches since their split in 1054.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1894 First everÈre des attentats: In one of the first acts of modern terrorism, Émile Henry threw a bomb into Café Terminus in Paris, France, killing one person and injuring 17 more.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1855 First everThe precursor of Michigan State University in East Lansing was founded as the United States' first agricultural college.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2024The GuardianCanada: second Sikh activist’s house hit by gunfire this monthBullet hole found in Inderjit Singh Gosal’s house, reigniting fears of apparent campaign of violence targeting Sikh s…
Read on The Guardian →
2017The GuardianVictories for Indigenous people are always short-lived. That's why we need a treaty – now@IndigenousX host Steve Bunbadgee Hodder Watt was in Canberra for Kevin Rudd’s national apology in 2008. It was easy…
Read on The Guardian →- 1968The New York TimesJudging of 2,580 Dogs at Westminster Kennel Club Show Will Begin Today
While satellite events in the form of specialties in 22 breeds occupied hundreds of exhibitors in city armories and h…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · 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
OddlyTrue News Stand
From the archives
Classic headlineMiners Refuse to Work After Death
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Did you guess the year?
Streak 0 days Best 0
When was “The Convention Parliament declares that the flight to France in 1688 by James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch, constitutes an abdication.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? Oddly true
The Convention Parliament declares that the flight to France in 1688 by James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch, constitutes an abdication.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016 First ever
In the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016 First ever
Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sign an Ecumenical Declaration in the first such meeting between leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches since their split in 1054.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 12 February — today is 13 October.
Born on this day
4
1809Birth
Birth of Abraham Lincoln
16th US President Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky log cabin.
1809Birth
Birth of Charles Darwin
Naturalist Charles Darwin was born same day as Lincoln in Shrewsbury, England.
1912Birth
Birth event - February 12
Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1912, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1980Birth
Christina Ricci born
Christina Ricci was born. American actress.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Accident
2012Death
Whitney Houston dies
Whitney Houston, singer and actress, died on this day in 2012. Accidental drowning. Remembered as: One of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Assassinated
1968Death
Martin Luther King Jr. dies
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, died on this day in 1968. Assassinated in Memphis. Remembered as: Prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Executed
1793Death
Death of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris during French Revolution.
Famous birthdays
27 this weekToday · 12 February
- Christina RicciAmerican actress (born 1980)Born 1980 · 46 years ago today
- BEBirth event - February 12Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1912, noted inBorn 1912 · 114 years ago today
- Charles DarwinEnglish naturalist and biologist (1809–1882)Born 1809 · 217 years ago today
- Abraham LincolnPresident of the United States from 1861 to 1865Born 1809 · 217 years ago today
Coming up this week
Mena SuvariAmerican actress (born 1979)13 February · born 1979
Robbie WilliamsEnglish singer (born 1974)13 February · born 1974
Kelly HuAmerican actress (born 1968)13 February · born 1968- BEBirth event - February 13Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1913, noted in13 February · born 1913
Freddie HighmoreEnglish actor (born 1992)14 February · born 1992
Simon PeggEnglish actor (born 1970)14 February · born 1970
Celebration12 February
Darwin Day
Honors the birth of Charles Darwin and his revolutionary contributions to evolutionary biology.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
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
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 12 February.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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