Today in history...
June 12, 2009
* 1381 – Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath.
* 1418 – An insurrection delivers Paris to the Burgundians.
* 1429 – Hundred Years' War: Joan of Arc leads the French army in their capture of the city and the English commander, William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk in the second day of the Battle of Jargeau.
* 1560 – Battle of Okehazama: Oda Nobunaga defeats Imagawa Yoshimoto.
* 1653 – First Anglo-Dutch War: the Battle of the Gabbard begins and lasts until June 13.
* 1665 – England installs a municipal government in New York City (the former Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam).
* 1758 – French and Indian War: Siege of Louisbourg – James Wolfe's attack at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia commences.
* 1775 – American Revolution: British general Thomas Gage declares martial law in Massachusetts. The British offer a pardon to all colonists who lay down their arms. There would be only two exceptions to the amnesty: Samuel Adams and John Hancock, if captured, were to be hanged.
* 1776 – The Virginia Declaration of Rights is adopted.
* 1830 – Beginning of the French colonization of Algeria: 34,000 French soldiers land 27 kilometers west of Algiers, at Sidi Ferruch.
* 1860 – The State Bank of the Russian Empire is established.
* 1864 – American Civil War, Overland Campaign: Battle of Cold Harbor – Ulysses S. Grant gives the Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee a victory when he pulls his Union troops from their positions at Cold Harbor, Virginia and moves south.
* 1889 – 78 are killed in the Armagh rail disaster near Armagh in what is now Northern Ireland.
* 1898 – Philippine Declaration of Independence: General Emilio Aguinaldo declares the Philippines' independence from Spain.
* 1899 – New Richmond Tornado: the eighth deadliest tornado in U.S. history kills 117 people and injures around 200.
* 1922 – At Windsor Castle, King George V receives the colours of the six Irish regiments that are to be disbanded – the Royal Irish Regiment, the Connaught Rangers, the South Irish Horse, the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment, the Royal Munster Fusiliers and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
* 1935 – Chaco War ends: a truce is called between Bolivia and Paraguay who had been fighting since 1932.
* 1939 – Shooting begins on Paramount Pictures' Dr. Cyclops, the first horror film photographed in three-strip Technicolor.
* 1939 – The Baseball Hall of Fame opens in Cooperstown, New York.
* 1940 – World War II: 13,000 British and French troops surrender to Major General Erwin Rommel at Saint-Valery-en-Caux.
* 1942 – Holocaust: Anne Frank receives a diary for her thirteenth birthday.
* 1943 – Holocaust: Germany liquidates the Jewish Ghetto in Berezhany, western Ukraine. 1,180 Jews are led to the city's old Jewish graveyard and shot.
* 1963 – Civil rights leader Medgar Evers is murdered in front of his home in Jackson, Mississippi by Ku Klux Klan member Byron De La Beckwith.
* 1964 – Anti-apartheid activist and ANC leader Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life in prison for sabotage in South Africa.
* 1967 – The United States Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia declares all U.S. state laws which prohibit interracial marriage to be unconstitutional.
* 1967 – Venera program: Venera 4 is launched (it will become the first space probe to enter another planet's atmosphere and successfully return data).
* 1978 – David Berkowitz, the "Son of Sam" killer in New York City, is sentenced to 365 years in prison for six killings.
* 1979 – Bryan Allen wins the second Kremer prize for a man powered flight across the English Channel in the Gossamer Albatross.
* 1987 – The Central African Republic's former Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa is sentenced to death for crimes he had committed during his 13-year rule.
* 1987 – Cold War: At the Brandenburg Gate U.S. President Ronald Reagan publicly challenges Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
* 1990 – Russia Day – the parliament of the Russian Federation formally declares its sovereignty.
* 1991 – Russians elect Boris Yeltsin as the president of the republic.
* 1991 – 1991 Kokkadichcholai massacre: the Sri Lankan Army massacres 152 minority Tamil civilians in the village Kokkadichcholai near the eastern province town of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.
* 1993– An election takes place in Nigeria which and is later annulled by the military Government led by Ibrahim_Babangida.
* 1994 – Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman are murdered outside her home in Los Angeles, California. O.J. Simpson is later acquitted of the killings, but is held liable in wrongful death civil suit.
* 1996 – In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a panel of federal judges blocks a law against indecency on the internet.
* 1997 – Queen Elizabeth II reopens the Globe Theatre in London.
* 1999 – Kosovo War: Operation Joint Guardian begins when a NATO-led United Nations peacekeeping force (KFor) enters the province of Kosovo in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
* 2000 – Sandro Rosa do Nascimento takes hostages while robbing Bus #174 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the highly-publicized standoff becomes a media circus and ends with the death of do Nascimento and a hostage.
* 2004 – A 1.3 kilogram chondrite type meteorite strikes a house in Ellerslie, New Zealand causing serious damage but no injuries.
* 2009 – All television broadcasts in the United States switch from analog to digital transmission.
Birthdays today...
* 1107 – Emperor Gaozong of China (d. 1187)
* 1519 – Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (d. 1574)
* 1577 – Paul Guldin, Swiss astronomer and mathematician (d. 1643)
* 1775 – Karl Freiherr von Müffling, Prussian field marshal (d. 1851)
* 1777 – Robert Clark, American politician (d. 1837)
* 1802 – Harriet Martineau, controversial journalist, political economist, abolitionist and life-long feminist (d. 1876)
* 1806 – John A. Roebling, German-America civil engineer (Brooklyn Bridge) (d. 1869)
* 1812 – Edmond Hébert, French geologist (d. 1890)
* 1819 – Charles Kingsley, English writer (d. 1875)
* 1827 – Johanna Spyri, Swiss author (d. 1901)
* 1861 – William Attewell, English cricketer (d. 1927)
* 1875 – Sam De Grasse, Canadian actor (d. 1953)
* 1888 – Zygmunt Janiszewski, Polish mathematician (d. 1920)
* 1890 – Egon Schiele, Austrian painter and graphic artist (d. 1918)
* 1892 – Djuna Barnes, American author (d. 1982)
* 1897 – Anthony Eden, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. 1977)
* 1899 – Fritz Albert Lipmann, American biochemist, Nobel laureate (d. 1986)
* 1902 – Hendrik Elias, Flemish politician (d. 1973)
* 1903 – Emmett Hardy, American musician (d. 1925)
* 1905 – Ray Barbuti, American athlete (d. 1988)
* 1906 – Sandro Penna, Italian poet (d. 1977)
* 1908 – Alphonse Ouimet, Canadian TV pioneer and president of the CBC (d. 1988)
* 1908 – Marina Semenova, Russian ballerina
* 1908 – Otto Skorzeny, Famous WWII German SS commando (d. 1975)
* 1910 – Bill Naughton, English playwright (d. 1992)
* 1913 – Jean Victor Allard, Canadian army general (d. 1996)
* 1915 – Christopher Mayhew, British politician (d. 1997)
* 1915 – David Rockefeller, American banker
* 1916 – Irwin Allen, American film producer (d. 1991)
* 1918 – Samuel Z. Arkoff, American film producer (d. 2001)
* 1919 – Uta Hagen, American actress (d. 2004)
* 1920 – Dave Berg, American cartoonist (d. 2002)
* 1920 – Peter Jones, English actor (d. 2000)
* 1920 – Jim Siedow, American actor (d. 2003)
* 1921 – Christopher Derrick, British writer (d. 2007)
* 1921 – James Archibald Houston, Canadian artist (d. 2005)
* 1923 – Monty Westmore, American make-up artist (d. 2007)
* 1924 – George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States
* 1926 – Jackie Pallo, English professional wrestler (d. 2006)
* 1928 – Vic Damone, American singer
* 1928 – Richard M. Sherman, American songwriter
* 1929 – Brigid Brophy, British writer (d. 1995)
* 1929 – Anne Frank, German-born Dutch Jewish diarist and Holocaust victim (d. 1945)
* 1929 – Jameel Jalibi, Pakistani scholar, writer, and Urdu linguist
* 1930 – Donald Byrne, American chess player (d. 1976)
* 1930 – Jim Nabors, American actor
* 1930 – Innes Ireland, Scottish racing driver (d. 1993)
* 1932 – Mimi Coertse, South African soprano
* 1932 – Rona Jaffe, American novelist
* 1932 – Mamo Wolde, Ethiopian athlete (d. 2002)
* 1933 – Eddie Adams, American photographer, won Pulitzer Prize (d. 2004)
* 1934 – John A. Alonzo, American cinematographer (d. 2001)
* 1937 – Vladimir Arnold, Russian mathematician
* 1937 – Antal Festetics, Austrian biologist
* 1938 – Tom Oliver, Australian actor
* 1939 – Frank McCloskey, American politician (d. 2003)
* 1941 – Marv Albert, American sportscaster
* 1941 – Chick Corea, American musician
* 1941 – Roy Harper, English musician
* 1942 – Bert Sakmann, German physiologist, Nobel laureate
* 1942 – Len Barry, American singer and musician (The Dovells)
* 1945 – Pat Jennings, Northern Irish footballer
* 1946 – Harry Glasper, English writer
* 1946 – Michel Bergeron, NHL head coach
* 1948 – Hans Binder, Austrian racing driver
* 1949 – Marc Tardif, Canadian ice hockey player
* 1949 – John Wetton, English musician (Asia)
* 1951 – Andranik Margaryan, 14th Prime Minister of Armenia (d. 2007)
* 1951 – Bun E. Carlos, American musician (Cheap Trick)
* 1951 – Brad Delp, American singer (Boston) (d. 2007)
* 1952 – Pete Farndon, English musician (The Pretenders) (d. 1983)
* 1952 – Spencer Abraham, Secretary of Energy under George W. Bush
* 1953 – Allan Weiner, American radio station owner
* 1954 – Neil Oatley, English engineer
* 1956 – Terry Alderman, Australian cricketer
* 1956 – Rob Collins, English musician (The Charlatans) (d. 1996)
* 1957 – Timothy Busfield, American actor
* 1957 – Javed Miandad, Pakistani cricketer and coach
* 1958 – Rebecca Holden, American actress and singer
* 1959 – Jenilee Harrison, American actress
* 1959 – John Linnell, American musician (They Might Be Giants)
* 1959 – Scott Thompson, Canadian comedian (Kids in the Hall)
* 1959 – Jervis Johnson, Games Designer for Games Workshop, Nottingham
* 1961 – Jim Goad, American author
* 1962 – Paul Clark, English musician (The Bolshoi)
* 1962 – John Enos III, American actor
* 1963 – Warwick Capper, Australian rules footballer
* 1963 – Tim DeKay, American actor
* 1963 – Jerry Lynn, American professional wrestler
* 1963 – Johnny Weiss, American professional wrestler
* 1963 – Philippe Bugalski, French rally driver
* 1964 – Paula Marshall, American actress
* 1964 – Derek Higgins, Irish racing driver
* 1965 – Filip Topol, Czech musician and writer
* 1965 – Vicky Vette, Norwegian-born adult film actress
* 1967 – Frances O'Connor, Australian actress
* 1967 – Icíar Bollaín, Spanish actress, director and writer
* 1968 – Scott Aldred, American baseball player
* 1968 – Bobby Sheehan, American musician (Blues Traveler) (d. 1999)
* 1969 – Zsolt Daczi, Hungarian guitarist (Omen, Bikini) (d. 2007)
* 1969 – Mathieu Schneider, American ice hockey player
* 1969 – Heinz-Christian Strache, Austrian politician
* 1970 – Gordon Michael Woolvett, Canadian actor
* 1971 – Mark Henry, American professional wrestler
* 1971 – Ryan Klesko, American baseball player
* 1972 – Bounty Killer, Jamaican deejay
* 1973 – Takis Fyssas, Greek footballer
* 1973 – Darryl White, Australian rules footballer
* 1974 – Hideki Matsui, Japanese baseball player
* 1974 – Jason Mewes, American actor
* 1974 – Kerry Kittles, American basketball player
* 1976 – Thomas Sørensen, Danish footballer
* 1976 – Antawn Jamison, American basketball player
* 1977 – Kenny Wayne Shepherd, American blues-rock guitarist
* 1977 – Wade Redden, Canadian ice hockey player
* 1978 – DJ Qualls, American model and actor
* 1979 – Dallas Clark, American football player
* 1979 – Wil Horneff, American actor
* 1979 – Robyn, Swedish musician
* 1980 – Larry Foote, American football player
* 1980 – Marco Bortolami, Italian rugby union player
* 1980 – Carrie Davis, American Author
* 1981 – Adriana Lima, Brazilian supermodel
* 1981 – Nora Tschirner, German television presenter
* 1982 – Ben Blackwell, American musician
* 1982 – Jason David, American football player
* 1982 – Loïc Duval, French racing driver
* 1983 – Josh Dies, American author and musician (Showbread)
* 1983 – Bryan Habana, South African rugby player
* 1983 – Christine Sinclair, Canadian soccer player
* 1985 – Blake Ross, American software developer
* 1985 – Kendra Wilkinson, American Playboy bunny/Playmate/Television Personality
* 1985 – Sam Thaiday, Australian professional rugby league player
* 1985 – Chris Young, American musician
* 1986 – Sergio Rodriguez, Spanish basketball player
* 1987 – Ryu Deok-hwan, South Korean actor
* 1988 – Courtney Galiano, American dancer
* 1990 – Kevin Wu, American comedian
* 1992 – Allie DiMeco American musician and actress (The Naked Brothers Band)
* 1992 – Ryan Malgarini, American actor
* 1992 – Philippe Coutinho, Brazilian football player
* 1997 – William Cuddy, Canadian actor
Famous deaths...
* 816 – Pope Leo III
* 918 – Ethelfleda, Lady of the Mercians
* 1020 – Lyfing, Archbishop of Canterbury
* 1036 – Tedald, Bishop of Arezzo
* 1418 – Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac, Constable of France (b. 1360)
* 1435 – John FitzAlan, 14th Earl of Arundel, English military leader (b. 1408)
* 1560 – Imagawa Yoshimoto, Japanese daimyo (b. 1519)
* 1560 – Ii Naomori, Japanese warrior (b. 1506)
* 1565 – Adrianus Turnebus, French classical scholar (b. 1512)
* 1567 – Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, Lord Chancellor of England (b. 1490)
* 1647 – Thomas Farnaby, English grammarian
* 1675 – Duke Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy (b. 1634)
* 1734 – James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, French military commander (b. 1670)
* 1758 – Augustus William, Prince of Prussia (b. 1722)
* 1772 – Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, French explorer (b. 1724)
* 1778 – Philip Livingston, American signer of the Declaration of Independence (b. 1716)
* 1816 – Pierre Augereau, Marshal of France and duc de Castiglione (b. 1757)
* 1818 – Egwale Seyon, Emperor of Ethiopia
* 1904 – Camille de Renesse, Belgian Count (b. 1836)
* 1912 – Frédéric Passy, French economist, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (b. 1822)
* 1917 – Teresa Carreño, Venezuelan pianist (b. 1853)
* 1937 – Mikhail Tukhachevsky, Marshal of the Soviet Union (b. 1893)
* 1957 – Jimmy Dorsey, American musician (b. 1904)
* 1962 – John Ireland, English composer (b. 1879)
* 1963 – Medgar Evers, American civil rights activist (b. 1925)
* 1966 – Hermann Scherchen, German conductor (b. 1891)
* 1969 – Alexander Deyneka, Ukrainian painter (b. 1899)
* 1978 – Guo Moruo, Chinese writer (b. 1892)
* 1980 – Milburn Stone, American actor (b. 1904)
* 1980 – Billy Butlin, Founder of the brand of holiday venues known as Butlins (b. 1899)
* 1980 – Masayoshi Ohira, Prime minister of Japan (b. 1910)
* 1982 – Karl von Frisch, Austrian zoologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1886)
* 1982 – Ian McKay, British soldier, Victoria Cross recipient (b. 1953)
* 1983 – Norma Shearer, Canadian actress (b. 1902)
* 1989 – Lou Monte, American singer (b. 1917)
* 1994 – Ronald Goldman, American actor and model (b. 1968)
* 1994 – Nicole Brown Simpson, American ex-wife of O.J. Simpson (b. 1959)
* 1994 – Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Lubavitcher Rebbe (b. 1902)
* 1994 – Christopher Collins, American actor and comedian (b. 1949)
* 1995 – Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Italian pianist (b. 1920)
* 1997 – Bulat Okudzhava, Russian writer and musician (b. 1924)
* 2000 – P. L. Deshpande, Marathi writer (b. 1919)
* 2002 – Bill Blass, American fashion designer (b. 1922)
* 2003 – Gregory Peck, American actor (b. 1916)
* 2005 – Scott Young, Canadian sportswriter, novelist, and journalist (b. 1918)
* 2006 – György Ligeti, Hungarian composer (b. 1923)
* 2006 – Kenneth Roy Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet, Canadian businessman and art collector (b. 1923)
* 2007 – Don Herbert aka "Mr. Wizard", American television host (b. 1917)
* 2008 – Derek Tapscott, Welsh footballer (b. 1932)
Holidays and observances...
* World Day Against Child Labour
* Brazil: Dia dos Namorados
* Paraguay: Chaco Armistice Day
* Philippines: Independence Day (Araw ng Kalayaan)
* Russia: Russia Day
* United States: Loving Day, celebrates the legalization of interracial marriage
* Roman Empire – sixth day of the Vestalia in honor of Vesta
Have a good Friday
~Brian
