April 12 in history — What Happened Today in History
April 12 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on April 12 in history, who was born on April 12 and who passed away on April 12, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, April 12 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about April 12 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on April 12 in History 40
- 2026
The Tisza Party, led by Péter Magyar wins the 2026 Hungarian parliamentary election, defeating Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party, which had ruled the country for 16 years, marking the first change in government in Hungary for over a decade.
- 2014
The Great Fire of Valparaíso ravages the Chilean city of Valparaíso, killing 16 people, displacing nearly 10,000, and destroying more than 2,500 homes.
- 2013
Two suicide bombers kill three Chadian soldiers and injure dozens of civilians at a market in Kidal, Mali.
- 2010
Merano derailment: A rail accident in South Tyrol kills nine people and injures a further 28.
- 2009
Zimbabwe officially abandons the Zimbabwean dollar as its official currency.
- 2007
A suicide bomber penetrates the Green Zone and detonates in a cafeteria within a parliament building, killing Iraqi MP Mohammed Awad and wounding more than twenty other people.
- 2002
A suicide bomber blows herself up at the entrance to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda Market, killing seven people and wounding 104.
- 1999
United States President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving "intentionally false statements" in a civil lawsuit; he is later fined and disbarred.
- 1999
During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, an American McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle shoots a passenger train, killing between 20 and 60 people.
- 1992
The Euro Disney Resort officially opens with its theme park Euro Disneyland; the resort and its park's name are subsequently changed to Disneyland Resort Paris.
- 1990
Jim Gary's "Twentieth Century Dinosaurs" exhibition opens at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. He is the only sculptor ever invited to present a solo exhibition there.
- 1990
Widerøe Flight 839 crashes after takeoff from Værøy Airport in Norway, killing five people.
All entries for April 12（+28）
- 1985
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-51D to deploy two communications satellites.
- 1983
Harold Washington is elected as the first black mayor of Chicago.
- 1981
The first launch of a Space Shuttle (Columbia) takes place: The STS-1 mission.
- 1980
The Americo-Liberian government of Liberia is violently deposed.
- 1980
Transbrasil Flight 303, a Boeing 727, crashes on approach to Hercílio Luz International Airport in Florianópolis, Brazil. Fifty-five out of the 58 people on board are killed.
- 1980
Canadian runner and athlete Terry Fox begins his Marathon of Hope Run in St. John's, NF
- 1970
Soviet submarine K-8, carrying four nuclear torpedoes, sinks in the Bay of Biscay four days after a fire on board.
- 1963
The Soviet nuclear-powered submarine K-33 collides with the Finnish merchant vessel M/S Finnclipper in the Danish straits.
- 1961
Space Race: The Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to travel into outer space and perform the first crewed orbital flight, Vostok 1.
- 1955
The polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, is declared safe and effective.
- 1945
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office; Vice President Harry S. Truman succeeds him.
- 1945
World War II: The U.S. Ninth Army under General William H. Simpson crosses the Elbe River astride Magdeburg, and reaches Tangermünde—only 80 kilometres from Berlin.
- 1937
Sir Frank Whittle ground-tests the first jet engine designed to power an aircraft, at Rugby, England.
- 1934
The strongest surface wind gust in the world at the time of 231 mph, is measured on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire. It has since been surpassed.
- 1934
The U.S. Auto-Lite strike begins, culminating in a five-day melee between Ohio National Guard troops and 6,000 strikers and picketers.
- 1928
The Bremen, a German Junkers W 33 type aircraft, takes off for the first successful transatlantic aeroplane flight from east to west.
- 1927
Shanghai massacre of 1927: Chiang Kai-shek orders the Chinese Communist Party members executed in Shanghai, ending the First United Front.
- 1927
Rocksprings, Texas is hit by an F5 tornado that destroys 235 of the 247 buildings in the town, kills 72 townspeople, and injures 205; third deadliest tornado in Texas history.
- 1917
World War I: Canadian forces successfully complete the taking of Vimy Ridge from the Germans.
- 1910
SMS Zrínyi, one of the last pre-dreadnought battleships built by the Austro-Hungarian Navy, is launched.
- 1900
One day after its enactment by the Congress, President William McKinley signs the Foraker Act into law, giving Puerto Rico limited self-rule.
- 1877
The United Kingdom annexes the Transvaal.
- 1865
American Civil War: Mobile, Alabama, falls to the Union Army.
- 1864
American Civil War: The Battle of Fort Pillow: Confederate forces kill most of the African American soldiers that surrendered at Fort Pillow, Tennessee.
- 1862
American Civil War: The Andrews Raid (the Great Locomotive Chase) occurs, starting from Big Shanty, Georgia (now Kennesaw).
- 1861
American Civil War: Battle of Fort Sumter. The war begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.
- 1831
Soldiers marching on the Broughton Suspension Bridge in Manchester, England, cause it to collapse.
- 1820
Alexander Ypsilantis is declared leader of Filiki Eteria, a secret organization to overthrow Ottoman rule over Greece.
Famous Birthdays on April 12 in History 25
- 1996
Jan Bednarek, Polish footballer
- 1996
Matteo Berrettini, Italian tennis player
- 1995
Pedro Cachin, Argentine tennis player
- 1994
Eric Bailly, Ivorian professional footballer
- 1994
Isabelle Drummond, Brazilian actress and singer
- 1994
Guido Rodríguez, Argentine footballer
- 1994
Saoirse Ronan, American-born Irish actress
- 1994
Sehun, South Korean musician
- 1993
Robin Anderson, American tennis player
- 1993
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1992
Chad le Clos, South African swimmer
- 1992
The Vivienne, Welsh drag queen (died 2025)
All entries for April 12（+13）
- 1991
Lionel Carole, French professional footballer
- 1991
Oliver Norwood, English-born Northern Irish international footballer
- 1991
Magnus Pääjärvi, Swedish ice hockey player
- 1991
Jazz Richards, Welsh international footballer
- 1990
Hiroki Sakai, Japanese footballer
- 1989
Bethan Dainton, Welsh rugby union player
- 1989
Ádám Hanga, Hungarian basketball player
- 1989
Miguel Ángel Ponce, American-Mexican footballer
- 1989
Valentin Stocker, Swiss footballer
- 1989
Kaitlyn Weaver, Canadian-American ice dancer
- 1988
Ricky Álvarez, Argentinian footballer
- 1988
Stephen Brogan, English footballer
- 1988
Amedeo Calliari, Italian footballer
Notable Deaths on April 12 in History 25
- 2026
Asha Bhosle, Indian playback singer, businesswoman, actress and television personality (born 1933)
- 2026
Chris Payton-Jones American football player (born 1995)
- 2025
Pilita Corrales, Filipino singer-songwriter and actress (born 1939)
- 2024
Roberto Cavalli, Italian fashion designer and inventor (born 1940)
- 2024
Eleanor Coppola, American filmmaker (born 1936)
- 2024
Robert MacNeil, Canadian-American journalist and author (born 1931)
- 2022
Gilbert Gottfried, American comedian, actor, and singer (born 1955)
- 2021
Joseph Siravo, American actor and producer (born 1955)
- 2020
Tarvaris Jackson, American football player (born 1983)
- 2017
Charlie Murphy, American actor and comedian (born 1959)
- 2016
Mohammad Al Gaz, Emirati politician & diplomat (born 1930)
- 2016
Anne Jackson, American actress (born 1925)
All entries for April 12（+13）
- 2015
Paulo Brossard, Brazilian jurist and politician (born 1924)
- 2015
Patrice Dominguez, Algerian-French tennis player and trainer (born 1950)
- 2015
Alfred Eick, German commander (born 1916)
- 2015
André Mba Obame, Gabonese politician (born 1957)
- 2014
Pierre Autin-Grenier, French author and poet (born 1947)
- 2014
Pierre-Henri Menthéour, French cyclist (born 1960)
- 2014
Maurício Alves Peruchi, Brazilian footballer (born 1990)
- 2014
Hal Smith, American baseball player and coach (born 1931)
- 2014
Billy Standridge, American race car driver (born 1953)
- 2013
Robert Byrne, American chess player and author (born 1928)
- 2013
Johnny du Plooy, South African boxer (born 1964)
- 2013
Michael France, American screenwriter (born 1962)
- 2013
Brennan Manning, American priest and author (born 1934)
That is the story of April 12 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on April 12 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on April 12 in history?
The biggest event on April 12 in history is: 2026 — The Tisza Party, led by Péter Magyar wins the 2026 Hungarian parliamentary election, defeating Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party, which had ruled the country for 16 years, marking the first change in government in Hungary for over a decade.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on April 12?
25 famous people were born on April 12 in history, the best known being 1996 — Jan Bednarek, Polish footballer.
Who died on April 12?
25 notable people died on April 12 in history, including 2026 — Asha Bhosle, Indian playback singer, businesswoman, actress and television personality (born 1933).
Why should I read about April 12 in history?
Exploring April 12 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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