What are the important events that happened on August 12? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
August 12: Facts & Myths About This Day
August 12 is the 225th day of the year 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 141 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Monday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is July 30, 2024 – a Monday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 478,728 hours has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.
Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘dihectaicosapentagon’ day.
Leo is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Peridot is the modern birthstone for this month. Diamond is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 170 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.
The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,252 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
Do people and celebrities interest you? Discover all the August 12 famous birthdays who share your special day. Learn some fun facts about your birthday! (Sponsored link)
August 12: This Day In History
It is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. It is also known as the “Glorious Twelfth” in the UK, as it marks the traditional start of the grouse shooting season.
August 12 Historical Events
30 BC –
Cleopatra VII Philopator, the last ruler of the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty, commits suicide, allegedly by means of an asp bite.
1480 –
Battle of Otranto: Ottoman troops behead 800 Christians for refusing to convert to Islam.
1793 –
The Rhône and Loire (Lêre) départments are created when the former département of Rhône-et-Loire is split into two.
1898 –
The Hawaiian flag is lowered from Iolani Palace in an elaborate annexation ceremony and replaced with the flag of the United States to signify the transfer of sovereignty from the Republic of Hawai`i to the United States.
1914 –
World War I: the United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary; the countries of the British Empire follow suit.
1944 –
Alençon is liberated by General Leclerc, the first city in France to be liberated from the Nazis by French forces.
1960 –
Echo 1A, NASA’s first successful communications satellite, is launched.
1964 –
Charlie Wilson, one of the Great Train Robbers, escapes from Winson Green Prison in Birmingham, England.
1985 –
Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashes into Osutaka ridge in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, killing 520, to become the worst single-plane air disaster.
2005 –
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, is fatally shot by an LTTE sniper at his home.
Who were born on August 12?
1859 –
Katharine Lee Bates, American poet (d. 1929)
1880 –
Christy Mathewson, American baseball player (d. 1925)
1887 –
Erwin Schrödinger, Austrian physicist, Nobel laureate (d. 1961)
1928 –
Bob Buhl, American baseball player (d. 2001)
1932 –
Dallin H. Oaks, American The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apostle and former Utah Supreme Court Justice
1939 –
George Hamilton, American actor
1939 –
Michael D. Antonovich, American politician
1945 –
Ron Mael, American keyboardist (Sparks)
1954 –
Pat Metheny, American guitarist
1970 –
Charles Mesure, British actor
Who died on August 12?
1810 –
Etienne Louis Geoffroy, French pharmacist and entomologist (b. 1725)
1922 –
Arthur Griffith, Irish politician (b. 1871)
1924 –
Sándor Bródy, Hungarian author and journalist (b. 1863)
1935 –
Friedrich Schottky, German mathematician (b. 1851)
1952 –
David Bergelson, Ukrainian-born Soviet Yiddish language writer (b. 1884)
1955 –
Thomas Mann, German writer, Nobel laureate (b. 1875)
1982 –
Henry Fonda, American actor (b. 1905)
1989 –
Samuel Okwaraji, Nigerian footballer (b. 1964)
2005 –
John Loder, English sound engineer and record producer (b. 1946)
2010 –
Guido de Marco, Maltan politician and diplomat (b. 1931)
What no one tells you about your first name’s personality. Are there hidden powers in your moniker? Check out Faye’s personality and get smart about names today. (Sponsored links)