From the archives
Classic headlineIraqi Head Seeks Arms
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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- Iraqi Head Seeks ArmsHall of Fame◆
- 1991As Times Get Tougher for California, Its Leaders Push Harder to Save JobsThe New York Times◆
- 1099First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon: Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.Wikipedia◆
- 1099Crusades: Fatimid forces under al-Afdal Shahanshah began retreating to Egypt after the Battle of Ascalon, concluding the First Crusade.Wikipedia◆
- 1865Joseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs the first antiseptic surgery.Wikipedia◆
- 1851Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine.Wikipedia◆
- 1806Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina after the first British invasion.Wikipedia◆
- 1499First engagement of the Battle of Zonchio between Venetian and Ottoman fleets.Wikipedia◆
- 1492Christopher Columbus arrives in the Canary Islands on his first voyage to the New World.Wikipedia◆
- 1323The Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and Novgorod Republic is signed, regulating the border between the two countries for the first time.Wikipedia◆
- 2016The state-owned Taedonggang Brewing Company inaugurated the first beer festival in North Korea.Wikipedia◆
- 1990Near Faith, South Dakota, American paleontologist Sue Hendrickson found one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons, nicknamed Sue (pictured).Wikipedia◆
- Iraqi Head Seeks ArmsHall of Fame◆
- 1991As Times Get Tougher for California, Its Leaders Push Harder to Save JobsThe New York Times◆
- 1099First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon: Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.Wikipedia◆
- 1099Crusades: Fatimid forces under al-Afdal Shahanshah began retreating to Egypt after the Battle of Ascalon, concluding the First Crusade.Wikipedia◆
- 1865Joseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs the first antiseptic surgery.Wikipedia◆
- 1851Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine.Wikipedia◆
- 1806Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina after the first British invasion.Wikipedia◆
- 1499First engagement of the Battle of Zonchio between Venetian and Ottoman fleets.Wikipedia◆
- 1492Christopher Columbus arrives in the Canary Islands on his first voyage to the New World.Wikipedia◆
- 1323The Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and Novgorod Republic is signed, regulating the border between the two countries for the first time.Wikipedia◆
- 2016The state-owned Taedonggang Brewing Company inaugurated the first beer festival in North Korea.Wikipedia◆
- 1990Near Faith, South Dakota, American paleontologist Sue Hendrickson found one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons, nicknamed Sue (pictured).Wikipedia◆
12 August in history
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — August 12
1099 First everFirst Crusade: Battle of Ascalon: Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1099 First everCrusades: Fatimid forces under al-Afdal Shahanshah began retreating to Egypt after the Battle of Ascalon, concluding the First Crusade.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1865 First everJoseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs the first antiseptic surgery.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1851 Oddly trueIsaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1806 First everSantiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina after the first British invasion.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The New York Times Archives — On This Day
- 1991The New York TimesAs Times Get Tougher for California, Its Leaders Push Harder to Save Jobs
For decades, California could just lie back and rely on its seemingly irresistible lures to companies and people. If…
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
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When was “First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon: Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon: Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1099 First ever
Crusades: Fatimid forces under al-Afdal Shahanshah began retreating to Egypt after the Battle of Ascalon, concluding the First Crusade.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1865 First ever
Joseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs the first antiseptic surgery.
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.
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Viewing 12 August — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
0No recorded births.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Executed
1793Death
Death of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris during French Revolution.
Assassinated
1865Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
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.
Accident
2020Death
Kobe Bryant dies
Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, died on this day in 2020. Helicopter crash. Remembered as: Five-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers.
Day of Recognition12 August
International Youth Day
Draws attention to cultural and legal issues surrounding global youth demographics.
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 August.
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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