12 May

May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 233 days remain until the end of the year.

We have some interesting facts & historic events all about May 12th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about May 12th in history!

Table of Contents

  1. Global Celebrations
  2. Historic Events
  3. Famous Birthdays
  4. Heartbreaking Deaths

Global Celebrations

  • International Nurses Day.
  • National Limerick Day
  • National Nutty Fudge Day
  • International Nurses Day
  • National Odometer Day
  • National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Historic Events

What Happened On This Day – May 12

2008: A massive earthquake rocks China

The magnitude 7.9 quake left some 69,000 people dead, 18,000 missing, and 4.8 million homeless. It was the deadliest earthquake in China since 1976 when the Tangshan earthquake killed over 240,000 people.

1998: Violent clashes follow the killing of four protesters in Jakarta, Indonesia

The riots eventually led to the resignation of President Suharto.

1994: The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ends

With the signing of the Bishkek Protocol a week earlier, Armenian and Azerbaijani diplomats had formalized the ceasefire that went into effect on May 12. The conflict itself remains unsolved.

1982: A Spanish priest attempts to assassinate Pope John Paul II

Juan María Fernández y Krohn opposed the reforms initiated by the Second Vatican Council and believed that the Pope was a Communist agent. John Paul II escaped with minor injuries.

1941: The world’s first programmable, fully automatic computer is presented

The Z3 was designed by German inventor, Konrad Zuse. The original machine was destroyed in an air raid. A replica can be seen at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.

1984: Robin Williams dressed as a cheerleader during 1984

Robin Williams dressed as a cheerleader during 1984
Robin Williams dressed as a cheerleader during 1984

1949: The Soviet Union lifted the Berlin Blockade, in 1949.

1937: King George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey, in 1937.

1900: An Indian holy man reads on a bed of nails, 1900

An Indian holy man reads on a bed of nails, 1900
An Indian holy man reads on a bed of nails, 1900

1888: Japanese villagers stand amidst a huge boulder left from the collapse of Mt. Bandai, whose eruption had just erased multiple hamlets and reshaped the local topography, Fukushima, 1888

 Japanese villagers stand amidst a huge boulder left from the collapse of Mt. Bandai, whose eruption had just erased multiple hamlets and reshaped the local topography, Fukushima, 1888
Japanese villagers stand amidst a huge boulder left from the collapse of Mt. Bandai, whose eruption had just erased multiple hamlets and reshaped the local topography, Fukushima, 1888

1780: Besieged city of Charleston, South Carolina, surrendered to British forces during the Revolutionary War, 1780.

Famous Birthdays

Births On This Day, May 12

1946: Daniel Libeskind, American architect, designed the Imperial War Museum North, Jewish Museum

1928: Burt Bacharach, American pianist, composer, producer

1921: Joseph Beuys, German sculptor, illustrator

1907: Katharine Hepburn, American actress, singer

1820: Florence Nightingale, Italian/English nurse

Florence Nightingale was born.

Katharine Hepburn was born.

George Carlin was born.

Heartbreaking Deaths

Deaths On This Day, May 12

2008: Robert Rauschenberg, American painter, illustrator

2001: Perry Como, American singer, actor

1884: Bedřich Smetana, Czech composer

1860: Charles Barry, English architect, designed the Upper Brook Street Chapel, Halifax Town Hall

1003: Pope Sylvester II

Irena Sendler died.

Robert Reed died.

James Connolly died.

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