June 12th in History

Michael Dobson | June 12

Anne Frank

Today in History

  • The Virginia Declaration of Rights, a precursor to the US Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, is adopted (1776)
  • The Baseball Hall of Fame opens in Cooperstown, New York (1939)
  • Anne Frank receives a diary for her thirteenth birthday (1942)
  • Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life in prison (1964)
  • The US Supreme Court declares state prohibitions against interracial marriage to be unconstitutional (1967)
  • The fast food chain Popeyes is founded (1972)
  • Ronald Reagan says, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” (1987)

Birthdays

 

  • Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1519)
  • John A. Roebling, designer of the Brooklyn Bridge (1806)
  • Johanna Spyri, author of Heidi (1827)
  • Djuna Barnes, author (1892)
  • Anthony Eden, UK prime minister (1897)
  • Otto Skorzeny, German SS officer (1908)
  • David Rockefeller, banker (1915)
  • Irwin Allen, “Master of Disaster,” film and television director (1916)
  • Dave Berg, MAD cartoonist (1920)
  • George H. W. Bush, 41st US president (1924)
  • Vic Damone, singer-songwriter (1928)
  • Anne Frank, diarist and Holocaust victim (1929)
  • Jim Nabors, actor who played Gomer Pyle (1930)
  • Rona Jaffe, author (1931)
  • Marv Albert, sportscaster (1941)
  • Chick Corea, pianist and composer (1941)
  • Jenilee Harrison, actress (1959)
  • Jervis Johnson, game designer (1959)

Deaths

  • Jimmy Dorsey, bandleader (1957)
  • Medgar Evers, assassinated activist (1963)
  • Milburn Stone, actor, “Doc” on Gunsmoke (1980)
  • Norma Shearer, actress (1983)
  • Nicole Brown Simpson, wife of O. J. Simpson, and Ronald Goldman, waiter (1994)
  • Leo Buscaglia, author (1998)
  • Bill Blass, fashion designer (2002)
  • Gregory Peck, actor (2003)
  • Al Williamson, comic book artist (2010)

Holidays and Celebrations

  • Araw ng Kalayaan/Independence Day (Philippines)
  • Chaco Armistice Day (Paraguay)
  • Dia dos Namorados/Boyfriend’s or Girlfriend’s Day (Brazil)
  • Feast Day of Mut (Egypt)
  • Flag Day (Luxembourg)
  • Flag Day (New Zealand)
  • Helsinki Day (Finland)
  • June 12 Commemoration (Lagos State)
  • Loving Day (US)
  • Russia Day (Russia)
  • St. Anthony’s Eve (Portugal)
  • Territory Day (Iowa)
  • World Day Against Child Labour (United Nations)
Informal and made-up holidays include Diary Day, Gas Mask Birthday, Ghost in the Machine Day, Little League Girls Baseball Day, Magic Day, National Peanut Butter Cookie Day, Red Rose Day, Rock Around the Clock Day, Spoonful of Sugar Day, Tear-Down-the-Wall Day,
• • •
June 12 is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years). There are 202 days remaining until the end of the year.