A look back at history on this date
Events below are loaded live for December 12th
The Lebensborn Project, a Nazi reproduction program, is founded by Heinrich Himmler.
Father Edward J. Flanagan founds Boys Town as a farm village for wayward boys.
Yuan Shikai declares the establishment of the Empire of China and proclaims himself Emperor.
Guglielmo Marconi receives the first transatlantic radio signal (the letter "S" [•••] in Morse Code), at Signal Hill in St John's, Newfoundland.
Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina becomes the second black U.S. congressman.
Oaks explosion: The worst mining disaster in England kills 361 miners and rescuers.
American Civil War: USS Cairo sinks on the Yazoo River.
Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the US Constitution.
Maria of Enghien sells the lordship of Argos and Nauplia to the Republic of Venice.
Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II's Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh.
Álvaro de Bazán
1st Marquis of Santa Cruz, Spanish admiral (died 1588)
Born 1526Lodovico Giustini
Italian pianist and composer (died 1743)
Born 1685Samuel Hood
1st Viscount Hood, English admiral and politician (died 1816)
Born 1724William L. Marcy
American lawyer, judge, and politician, 21st United States Secretary of State (died 1857)
Born 1786Karl Bryullov
Russian painter (died 1852)
Born 1799Henry Wells
American businessman, co-founded Wells Fargo and American Express (died 1878)
Born 1805Stand Watie
American general (died 1871)
Born 1806John Sandfield Macdonald
Canadian lawyer and politician, 1st Premier of Ontario (died 1872)
Born 1812King Carloman II of the Franks (born c.866; hunting accident)
King Carloman II of the Franks (born c.866; hunting accident)
884Maimonides
Jewish physician, philosopher, and scholar (born 1135 or 1138)
1204Isabella of Mar
first wife of Robert Bruce VII (born 1277)
1296Loredana Marcello
Dogaressa of Venice, botanist, author
1572Henry St John
1st Viscount Bolingbroke, English philosopher and politician, Secretary at War (born 1678)
1751See how inflation has changed the value of money since you were born.
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