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April 12: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

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Facts & Historic Events That Happened on April 12

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April 12th is Walk On Your Wild Side Day and Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day.

We are now on the 103rd day of the year, congratulations for making it this far into 2024. There are 263 days left until the end of the year.

You may not think this day in April would be a particularly eventful one, but you’d be very wrong! April 12th has played an important role in history, and we’re here to tell you why, how & when!

Did you know that on this day in 1961, the first human visited space? Yuri Gagarin of the USSR completed a 108 minute orbital flight in a Vostok 1 Spacecraft.

Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about April 12th in history!

Events

What memorable events happened on April 12 in history? Keep reading to find out!

2022

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized for hosting a party during the height of Covid-19 lockdowns.

Johnson rejected calls for him to resign and instead became the first British prime minister to receive a fine for breaking the law.

2016

Project Starshot was announced by Yuri Milner, Stephen Hawking, and Mark Zuckerberg.

OTD in 2016: Project Starshot was announced by Yuri Milner

The Starshot is a $100 million project to send a probe on a 20-year journey to Alpha Centauri.

2015

Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy for US President.

2009

The Zimbabwean dollar was suspended indefinitely.

When the Zimbabwean dollar was introduced in 1980, it was on equal par with the US dollar. However, by 2009 it had to be redenominated three times due to hyperinflation. But, this wasn’t enough to stop the dollar from losing its value and being abandoned for more stable foreign currencies. Banknotes worth one hundred trillion Zimbabwean dollars were being circulated at their worst point.

1990

The “Twentieth Century Dinosaurs” exhibit opened at the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History.

The sculptor of the exhibition, Jim Gary, is the only sculptor ever invited to present a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

1981

The first Space Shuttle mission was launched.

The Columbia Space Shuttle launched under Mission STS-1 and carried a crew of two astronauts. Several delays and setbacks caused the flight to coincidentally take place on the 20th anniversary of the first crewed space flight.

1961

The world’s first person visited space.

OTD in 1961: The world's first person visited space.

Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet cosmonaut and, on this day, became the first person to ever go into space aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.

1955

Jonas Salk’s Polio vaccine tested by Jonas Salk was given final approval by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The USDA formally declared that the vaccine was safe and effective with a 90% success rate.

1954

Rock Around The Clock by Bill Haley and His Comets was recorded.

It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles for that year.

1951

Israeli Knesset chose April 13 as the official Holocaust Remembrance Day.

1861

The Battle of Fort Sumter in South Carolina between the United States and the Confederate States started the American Civil War.

OTD in 1861: The Battle of Fort Sumter in South Carolina between the United States and the Confederate States started the American Civil War.

1633

Cardinal Bellarmine condemned Galileo for stating that the earth revolved around the sun.

Galileo was later convicted of heresy for his belief that the sun was the center of the universe.

1204

Crusaders from the Fourth Crusade broke through Constantinople’s walls and entered the great city.

OTD in 1204: Crusaders from the Fourth Crusade broke through Constantinople's walls and entered the great city.

240 AD

Shapur I became co-emperor of the Sasanian Empire with his father Ardashir I.

Famous Births

Are you celebrating your birthday today? If so, did you know that you share the same birthday as Brendon Urie? See what other famous people were born on this day.

1987

Brendon Urie

American

Singer

Brendon Urie

Age:

37 years old

Born In:

Utah, USA

1994

Saoirse Ronan

American-Irish

Actress

Saoirse Ronan

Age:

30 years old

Born In:

New York, USA

1947

David Letterman

American

TV Host

David Letterman

Age:

77 years old

Born In:

Indiana, USA

1947

Tom Clancy

American

Novelist

Tom Clancy

Died On:

Oct 1, 2013 (Age 66)

Born In:

Maryland, USA

Famous Deaths

Unfortunately, April 12th has also been a day where we’ve had to say some goodbyes over the years…

1882

1945

Franklin D. Roosevelt

American

President

Franklin D. Roosevelt

1882

1945

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt was an American president born on January 30, 1882. He died on this day in 1945, at age 63 in Warm Springs, Georgia, USA.

Died On:

Apr 12, 1945 (Age 63)

Died In:

Georgia, USA

Special Holidays

If you can spare some time today, here are some unique holidays you could get involved with.

April 12: National Walk On Your Wild Side Day
United States

National Walk On Your Wild Side Day

All too often, we find ourselves stuck in the routine and mundane side of life, without any means of escaping it. Today is the perfect opportunity to try and break free from this by being daring and going out of your way to do something different and wild – something totally unexpected!

April 12: National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
United States

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

Cheese is good, sandwiches are good, but combining the two and toasting the results are surely a match made in heaven. So celebrate Grilled Cheese Sandwich day by toasting yourself a gooey grilled cheese and raising a toast to the good things in life.

THe Fact Site’s

Fun Fact Of The Day

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, it is legal to kill Bigfoot if you find it in Texas. It would be considered a non-protected nongame animal.

Birthday & Zodiac

For those of you who were born on this day, your star sign is Aries.

Fire is the element given to Aries, and those born under this sign harness a burning flame inside them – especially when they become deeply passionate about something.

All those born in April have the Diamond birthstone. Diamonds are associated with benefits such as happier relationships, mental clarity, balance, and prosperity. Did you know that the Ancient Romans believed Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds?

If you were born on April 12, you would likely have been conceived on or around July 20 of the previous year.

A baby conceived on April 12, 2024, will likely be due next year around January 3.

Fact Check

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