Events That Happened on April 12

The Great Fire of Valparaíso ravages the Chilean city of Valparaíso, killing 16 people, displacing nearly 10,000, and destroying over 2,000 homes.

Two suicide bombers kill three Chadian soldiers and injure dozens of civilians at a market in Kidal, Mali.

Minsk Metro bombing kills 15 people and injuries 204 when a bomb is detonated within the Minsk Metro, Belarus.

Merano derailment: A rail accident in South Tyrol kills nine people and injures a further 28.

Zimbabwe officially abandons the Zimbabwean dollar as its official currency.

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.

A suicide bomber blows herself up at the entrance to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda Market, killing seven people and wounding 104.

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.

During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, an American McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle shoots a passenger train, killing between 20 and 60 people.

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.

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.

Widerøe Flight 839 crashes after takeoff from Værøy Airport in Norway, killing five people.

Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-51D to deploy two communications satellites.

Harold Washington is elected as the first black mayor of Chicago.

The first launch of a Space Shuttle (Columbia) takes place: The STS-1 mission.

The Americo-Liberian government of Liberia is violently deposed.

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.

Canadian runner and athlete, Terry Fox begins his Marathon of Hope Run in St. John's, NF

Soviet submarine K-8, carrying four nuclear torpedoes, sinks in the Bay of Biscay four days after a fire on board.

The Soviet nuclear-powered submarine K-33 collides with the Finnish merchant vessel M/S Finnclipper in the Danish straits.[citation needed]

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.

The polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, is declared safe and effective.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office; Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes President upon Roosevelt's death.

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.

Sir Frank Whittle ground-tests the first jet engine designed to power an aircraft, at Rugby, England.

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.

The U.S. Auto-Lite strike begins, culminating in a five-day melee between Ohio National Guard troops and 6,000 strikers and picketers.[citation needed]

The Bremen, a German Junkers W 33 type aircraft, takes off for the first successful transatlantic aeroplane flight from east to west.

Shanghai massacre of 1927: Chiang Kai-shek orders the Chinese Communist Party members executed in Shanghai, ending the First United Front.[citation needed]

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.

World War I: Canadian forces successfully complete the taking of Vimy Ridge from the Germans.

SMS Zrínyi, one of the last pre-dreadnought battleships built by the Austro-Hungarian Navy, is launched.[citation needed]

One day after its enactment by the Congress, President William McKinley signs the Foraker Act into law, giving Puerto Rico limited self-rule.

The United Kingdom annexes the Transvaal.

American Civil War: Mobile, Alabama, falls to the Union Army.

American Civil War: The Battle of Fort Pillow: Confederate forces kill most of the African American soldiers that surrendered at Fort Pillow, Tennessee.

American Civil War: The Andrews Raid (the Great Locomotive Chase) occurs, starting from Big Shanty, Georgia (now Kennesaw).

American Civil War: Battle of Fort Sumter. The war begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.

Soldiers marching on the Broughton Suspension Bridge in Manchester, England, cause it to collapse.

Alexander Ypsilantis is declared leader of Filiki Eteria, a secret organization to overthrow Ottoman rule over Greece.[citation needed]

The Froberg mutiny on Malta ends when the remaining mutineers blow up the magazine of Fort Ricasoli.

War of the First Coalition: Napoleon Bonaparte wins his first victory as an army commander at the Battle of Montenotte, splitting the Austrian and Piedmontese armies away from each other, and marking the beginning of the Piedmontese surrender in the war.

American Revolution: A Royal Navy fleet led by Admiral George Rodney defeats a French fleet led by the Comte de Grasse at the Battle of the Saintes off Dominica in the Caribbean Sea.

American Revolution: With the Halifax Resolves, the North Carolina Provincial Congress authorizes its Congressional delegation to vote for independence from Britain.

The Union Flag is adopted as the flag of English and Scottish ships.

The Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade breach the walls of Constantinople and enter the city, which they completely occupy the following day.

Duke Oldřich of Bohemia deposes and blinds his brother Jaromír, who flees to Poland.[citation needed]

King Edwin of Northumbria is converted to Christianity by Paulinus, Bishop of York.

Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.

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

Jan Bednarek, Polish footballer

Matteo Berrettini, Italian tennis player

Elizaveta Kulichkova, Russian tennis player

Pedro Cachin, Argentine tennis player

Eric Bailly, Ivorian professional footballer

Isabelle Drummond, Brazilian actress and singer

Guido Rodríguez, Argentine footballer

Saoirse Ronan, American-born Irish actress

Oh Sehun, South Korean musician

Robin Anderson, American tennis player

Jordan Archer, English-Scottish footballer

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Canadian ice hockey player

Chad le Clos, South African swimmer

Lionel Carole, French professional footballer

Torey Krug, American ice hockey player

Oliver Norwood, English born Northern Irish international footballer

Magnus Pääjärvi, Swedish ice hockey player

Jazz Richards, Welsh international footballer

Francesca Halsall, English swimmer

Hiroki Sakai, Japanese footballer

Bethan Dainton, Welsh rugby union player

Ádám Hanga, Hungarian basketball player

Miguel Ángel Ponce, American-Mexican footballer

Valentin Stocker, Swiss footballer

Kaitlyn Weaver, Canadian-American ice dancer

Ricky Álvarez, Argentinian footballer

Stephen Brogan, English footballer

Amedeo Calliari, Italian footballer

Jessie James Decker, American singer-songwriter

Moamen Zakaria, Egyptian footballer

Luiz Adriano, Brazilian professional footballer

Brooklyn Decker, American model and actress

Shawn Gore, Canadian football player

Josh McCrone, Australian rugby league player

Brendon Urie, American singer, songwriter, musician and multi-instrumentalist

Brad Brach, American baseball pitcher

Blerim Džemaili, Swiss footballer

Marcel Granollers, Spanish tennis player

Jonathan Pitroipa, Burkinabé footballer

Brennan Boesch, American baseball player

Hitomi Yoshizawa, Japanese singer

Aleksey Dmitrik, Russian high jumper

Jelena Dokic, Serbian-Australian tennis player

Luke Kibet, Kenyan runner

Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Russian runner

Nicolás Burdisso, Argentinian footballer

Tulsi Gabbard, American politician

Grant Holt, English footballer and professional wrestler

Hisashi Iwakuma, Japanese baseball pitcher

Sara Head, Welsh Paralympic table tennis champion

Brian McFadden, Irish singer-songwriter

Claire Danes, American actress

Elena Grosheva, Russian gymnast

Mateja Kežman, Serbian footballer

Jennifer Morrison, American actress

Sergio Pellissier, Italian footballer

Cristian Ranalli, Italian footballer

Lee Soo-young, South Korean singer

Guy Berryman, Scottish bassist (Coldplay)

Scott Crary, American director, producer, and screenwriter

Svetlana Lapina, Russian high jumper

Robin Walker, English businessman and politician

Giovanny Espinoza, Ecuadorian footballer

Sarah Monahan, Australian actress

Jason Price, Welsh footballer

Glenn Rogers, Australian-Scottish cricketer

Olga Kotlyarova, Russian runner

Brad Miller, American basketball player

Belinda Emmett, Australian actress (died 2006)

Bryan Fletcher, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster

Roman Hamrlík, Czech ice hockey player

Marley Shelton, American actress

Sylvinho, Brazilian footballer and manager

J. Scott Campbell, American author and illustrator

Ryan Kisor, American trumpet player and composer

Antonio Osuna, Mexican-American baseball player

Christian Panucci, Italian footballer and manager

Paul Lo Duca, American baseball player and sportscaster

Nicholas Brendon, American actor

Shannen Doherty, American actress, director, and producer (died 2024)

Sylvain Bouchard, Canadian speed skater

Michael Jackson, American football player and politician (died 2017)

Jörn Lenz, German footballer and manager

Lucas Radebe, South African footballer and sportscaster

Alicia Coppola, American actress

Toby Gad, German songwriter and producer

Adam Graves, Canadian ice hockey player

Sarah Cracknell, English singer-songwriter

Nils-Olav Johansen, Norwegian guitarist and singer

Lorenzo White, American football player

Kim Bodnia, Danish actor and director

Chi Onwurah, English politician

Gervais Rufyikiri, Burundian politician

Mihai Stoica, Romanian footballer and manager

Chris Fairclough, English footballer and coach

Amy Ray, American folk-rock singer-songwriter, musician, and music producer

Lydia Cacho, Mexican journalist and author

Art Alexakis, American singer-songwriter and musician

Carlos Sainz, Spanish racing driver

Nobuhiko Takada, Japanese mixed martial artist and wrestler, founded Hustle

Corrado Fabi, Italian racing driver

Charles Mann, American football player and sportscaster

Magda Szubanski, English-Australian actress, comedian and writer

David Thirdkill, American basketball player

Will Sergeant, English guitarist

Klaus Tafelmeier, German javelin thrower

Ginka Zagorcheva, Bulgarian hurdler

Greg Child, Australian mountaineer and author

Vince Gill, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Tama Janowitz, American novelist and short story writer

Andy Garcia, Cuban-American actor, director, and producer

Herbert Grönemeyer, German singer-songwriter and actor

Fabian Hamilton, English graphic designer, engineer, and politician

John Faulkner, Australian educator and politician, 52nd Australian Minister for Defence

Steve Stevaert, Belgian businessman and politician (died 2015)

Pat Travers, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist

Tanino Liberatore, Italian author and illustrator

Reuben Gant, American football player

Leicester Rutledge, New Zealand rugby player

Gary Soto, American poet, novelist, and memoirist

Ralph Wiley, American journalist (died 2004)

Tom Noonan, American actor

Joyce Banda, Malawian politician, 4th president of Malawi

Flavio Briatore, Italian businessman

David Cassidy, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2017)

Nicholas Sackman, English composer and educator

Scott Turow, American lawyer and author

Pravin Gordhan, South African politician (died 2024)

Jeremy Beadle, English television host and producer (died 2008)

Joschka Fischer, German academic and politician

Christos Iakovou, Greek weightlifter

Marcello Lippi, Italian footballer, manager, and coach

Roy M. Anderson, English epidemiologist, zoologist, and academic

Martin Brasier, English palaeontologist, biologist, and academic (died 2014)

Tom Clancy, American historian and author (died 2013)

David Letterman, American comedian and talk show host

Wayne Northrop, American actor (died 2024)

John Dunsworth, Canadian actor and comedian (died 2017)

Ed O'Neill, American actor and comedian

George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, Scottish politician and diplomat, 10th Secretary General of NATO

Lee Jong-wook, South Korean physician and diplomat (died 2006)

Lisa Jardine, English historian, author, and academic (died 2015)

John Kay, German-Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Sumitra Mahajan, Indian politician, 16th Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Bill Bryden, Scottish actor, director, and screenwriter (died 2022)

Carlos Reutemann, Argentinian race car driver and politician (died 2021)

Jacob Zuma, South African politician, 4th President of South Africa

Bobby Moore, English footballer and manager (died 1993)

Woodie Fryman, American baseball player (died 2011)

Herbie Hancock, American pianist, composer, and bandleader

Alan Ayckbourn, English director and playwright

Johnny Raper, Australian rugby league player and coach (died 2022)

Dennis Banks, American author and activist (died 2017)

Igor Volk, Ukrainian-Russian colonel, pilot, and astronaut (died 2017)

Tony Earl, American politician, 40th Governor of Wisconsin (died 2023)

Charles Napier, American actor (died 2011)

Kennedy Simmonds, Kittitian politician, 4th Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Jimmy Makulis, Greek singer (died 2007)

Heinz Schneiter, Swiss footballer and manager (died 2017)

Montserrat Caballé, Spanish soprano and actress (died 2018)

Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lankan lawyer and politician, 5th Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs (died 2005)

Herbert Butros Khaury, American singer and ukulele player (died 1996)

Jean-Pierre Marielle, French actor (died 2019)

Leonid Derbenyov, Russian poet and songwriter (died 1995)

John Landy, Australian runner and politician, 26th Governor of Victoria (died 2022)

Bryan Magee, English philosopher and politician (died 2019)

Manuel Neri, American sculptor and painter (died 2021)

Pythagoras Papastamatiou, Greek lyricist and playwright (died 1979)

Michał Życzkowski, Polish technician and educator (died 2006)

Elspet Gray, Scottish actress (died 2013)

Mukhran Machavariani, Georgian poet and educator (died 2010)

Hardy Krüger, German actor (died 2022)

Jean-François Paillard, French conductor (died 2013)

Thomas Hemsley, English baritone (died 2013)

Alvin Sargent, American screenwriter (died 2019)

Jane Withers, American actress (died 2021)

Evelyn Berezin, American computer scientist and engineer (died 2018)

Ned Miller, American country music singer and songwriter (died 2016)

Oliver Postgate, English animator, puppeteer, and screenwriter (died 2008)

Raymond Barre, French economist and politician, Prime Minister of France (died 2007)

Peter Safar, Austrian physician and academic (died 2003)

Curtis Turner, American race car driver (died 1970)

Ann Miller, American actress, singer, and dancer (died 2004)

Simon Kapwepwe, Zambian politician, 2nd Vice President of Zambia (died 1980)

Robert Cliche, Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician (died 1978)

István Anhalt, Hungarian-Canadian composer and educator (died 2012)

Billy Vaughn, American musician and bandleader (died 1991)

Helen Forrest, American singer and actress (died 1999)

Vinoo Mankad, Indian cricketer (died 1978)

Robert Manzon, French racing driver (died 2015)

Beverly Cleary, American author (died 2021)

Russell Garcia, American-New Zealand composer and conductor (died 2011)

Benjamin Libet, American neuropsychologist and academic (died 2007)

Armen Alchian, American economist and academic (died 2013)

Keiko Fukuda, Japanese-American martial artist (died 2013)

Frank Dilio, Canadian businessman (died 1997)

Hamengkubuwono IX, Indonesian politician, 2nd Vice President of Indonesia (died 1988)

Hound Dog Taylor, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1975)

Mahmoud Younis, Egyptian engineer (died 1976)

Gillo Dorfles, Italian art critic, painter and philosopher (died 2018)

Irma Rapuzzi, French politician (died 2018)

Ida Pollock, English author and painter (died 2013)

Robert Lee Scott, Jr., American pilot and general (died 2006)

Felix de Weldon, Austrian-American sculptor, designed the Marine Corps War Memorial (died 2003)

Zawgyi, Burmese poet, author, literary historian, critic, scholar and academic (died 1990)

Jan Tinbergen, Dutch economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1994)

Louis Beel, Dutch academic and politician, 36th Prime Minister of the Netherlands (died 1977)

Lowell Stockman, American farmer and politician (died 1962)

Lily Pons, French-American soprano and actress (died 1976)

Dorothy Cumming, Australian-American actress (died 1983)

Francisco Craveiro Lopes, Portuguese field marshal and politician, 13th President of Portugal (died 1964)

Henry Darger, American writer and artist (died 1973)

Dan Ahearn, Irish-American long jumper and police officer (died 1942)

Cecil Kimber, English automobile engineer (died 1945)

Harold Lockwood, American actor and director (died 1918)

Robert Delaunay, French painter (died 1941)

Tenby Davies, Welsh runner (died 1932)

Otto Meyerhof, German physician and biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1951)

Imogen Cunningham, American photographer and educator (died 1976)

Dally Messenger, Australian rugby player, cricketer, and sailor (died 1959)

Addie Joss, American baseball player and journalist (died 1911)

William B. Bankhead, American lawyer and politician, 47th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (died 1940)

Ioannis Metaxas, Greek general and politician, 130th Prime Minister of Greece (died 1941)

Henri Désiré Landru, French serial killer (died 1922)

Akiyama Saneyuki, Japanese admiral (died 1918)

Raul Pompeia, Brazilian writer (died 1895)

Martin Conway, 1st Baron Conway of Allington, English mountaineer, cartographer, and politician (died 1937)

Ferdinand von Lindemann, German mathematician and academic (died 1939)

José Gautier Benítez, Puerto Rican soldier and poet (died 1880)

Edward Walter Maunder, English astronomer and author (died 1928)

Gustaf Cederström, Swedish painter (died 1933)

Nikolay Przhevalsky, Russian geographer and explorer (died 1888)

Alexander Ostrovsky, Russian playwright and translator (died 1886)

Charles Gavan Duffy, Irish-Australian politician, 8th Premier of Victoria (died 1903)

Joseph Lanner, Austrian composer and conductor (died 1843)

Henri Druey, Swiss lawyer and politician, 2nd President of the Swiss Confederation (died 1855)

George N. Briggs, American lawyer and politician, 19th Governor of Massachusetts (died 1861)

Germinal Pierre Dandelin, Belgian mathematician and engineer (died 1847)

John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, English soldier and politician, Lord Privy Seal (died 1840)

Henry Clay, American lawyer and politician, 9th United States Secretary of State (died 1852)

Antoine Laurent de Jussieu, French botanist and author (died 1836)

Lyman Hall, American physician, clergyman, and politician, 16th Governor of Georgia (died 1790)

Pietro Nardini, Italian violinist and composer (died 1793)

Felice Giardini, Italian violinist and composer (died 1796)

Guillaume Thomas François Raynal, French historian and author (died 1796)

Caffarelli, Italian actor and singer (died 1783)

William Cookworthy, English minister and pharmacist (died 1780)

Benoît de Maillet, French diplomat and natural historian (died 1738)

Martin Lister, English naturalist and physician (died 1712)

Simone Cantarini, Italian painter and engraver (died 1648)

Christian IV of Denmark (died 1648)

Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, English courtier and politician, Lord Great Chamberlain (died 1604)

Muretus, French philosopher and author (died 1585)

Joachim Camerarius, German scholar and translator (died 1574)

Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Italian architect, designed the Apostolic Palace and St. Peter's Basilica (died 1546)

Maharana Sangram Singh, Rana of Mewar (died 1527)

Anne of Austria, Landgravine of Thuringia (died 1462)

Richeza of Poland, queen of Sweden and Grand Princess of Minsk (died 1156)

En'yū, emperor of Japan (died 991)

Muhammad al-Jawad, the ninth Imam of Shia Islam (died 835)

Pilita Corrales, Filipino singer-songwriter and actress (born 1939)

Roberto Cavalli, Italian fashion designer and inventor (born 1940)

Eleanor Coppola, American filmmaker (born 1936)

Robert MacNeil, Canadian-American journalist and author (born 1931)

Gilbert Gottfried, American comedian, actor, and singer (born 1955)

Joseph Siravo, American actor and producer (born 1955)

Tarvaris Jackson, American football player (born 1983)

Charlie Murphy, American actor and comedian (born 1959)

Mohammad Al Gaz, Emirati politician & diplomat (born 1930)

Anne Jackson, American actress (born 1925)

Paulo Brossard, Brazilian jurist and politician (born 1924)

Patrice Dominguez, Algerian-French tennis player and trainer (born 1950)

Alfred Eick, German commander (born 1916)

André Mba Obame, Gabonese politician (born 1957)

Pierre Autin-Grenier, French author and poet (born 1947)

Pierre-Henri Menthéour, French cyclist (born 1960)

Maurício Alves Peruchi, Brazilian footballer (born 1990)

Hal Smith, American baseball player and coach (born 1931)

Billy Standridge, American race car driver (born 1953)

Robert Byrne, American chess player and author (born 1928)

Johnny du Plooy, South African boxer (born 1964)

Michael France, American screenwriter (born 1962)

Brennan Manning, American priest and author (born 1934)

Annamária Szalai, Hungarian journalist and politician (born 1961)

Ya'akov Yosef, Israeli rabbi and politician (born 1946)

Mohit Chattopadhyay, Indian poet and playwright (born 1934)

Rodgers Grant, American pianist and composer (born 1935)

Karim Fakhrawi, Bahraini journalist, co-founded Al-Wasat (born 1962)

Michel Chartrand, Canadian trade union leader (born 1916)

Werner Schroeter, German director and screenwriter (born 1945)

Marilyn Chambers, American actress

Cecilia Colledge, English-American figure skater and coach (born 1920)

Patrick Hillery, Irish physician and politician, 6th President of Ireland (born 1923)

Jerry Zucker, Israeli-American businessman and philanthropist (born 1949)

Kevin Crease, Australian journalist (born 1936)

William Sloane Coffin, American minister and activist (born 1924)

Moran Campbell, Canadian physician and academic, invented the venturi mask (born 1925)

George Shevelov, Ukrainian-American linguist and philologist (born 1908)

Harvey Ball, American illustrator, created the smiley (born 1921)

Boxcar Willie, American singer-songwriter (born 1931)

Robert Ford, Canadian poet and diplomat (born 1915)

George Wald, American neurologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1906)

Ilario Bandini, Italian racing driver and businessman (born 1911)

Abbie Hoffman, American activist, co-founded Youth International Party (born 1936)

Sugar Ray Robinson, American boxer (born 1921)

Colette Deréal, French singer and actress (born 1927)

Alan Paton, South African historian and author (born 1903)

Valentin Kataev, Russian author and playwright (born 1897)

Edwin T. Layton, American admiral and cryptanalyst (born 1903)

Jørgen Juve, Norwegian football player and journalist (born 1906)

Carl Morton, American baseball player (born 1944)

Prince Yasuhiko Asaka of Japan (born 1887)

Joe Louis, American boxer and wrestler (born 1914)

William R. Tolbert, Jr., Liberian politician, 20th President of Liberia (born 1913)

Philip K. Wrigley, American businessman, co-founded Lincoln Park Gun Club (born 1894)

Christos Kakkalos, Greek mountain guide (born 1882)

Josephine Baker, French actress, activist, and humanitarian (born 1906)

Arthur Freed, American songwriter and producer (born 1894)

Ed Lafitte, American baseball player and dentist (born 1886)

Heinrich Nordhoff, German engineer (born 1899)

Sydney Allard, English racing driver and founder of the Allard car company (born 1910)

Ron Flockhart, Scottish racing driver (born 1923)

Lionel Logue, Australian actor and therapist (born 1880)

Franklin D. Roosevelt, American lawyer and politician, 32nd President of the United States (born 1882)

Viktor Puskar, Estonian colonel (born 1889)

Feodor Chaliapin, Russian opera singer (born 1873)

Abdülhak Hâmid Tarhan, Turkish playwright and poet (born 1852)

Adelbert Ames, American general and politician, 30th Governor of Mississippi (born 1835)

Vlasis Gavriilidis, Greek jourtnalist (born 1848)

Clara Barton, American nurse and humanitarian, founded the American Red Cross (born 1821)

Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharyya, Indian scholar, academic, and philanthropist (born 1836)

Marie Alfred Cornu, French physicist and academic (born 1842)

Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau, Canadian cardinal (born 1820)

William Crowther, Dutch-Australian politician, 14th Premier of Tasmania (born 1817)

Richard Taylor, Confederate general (born 1826)

William M. Tweed, American lawyer and politician (born 1823)

Nikolaos Mantzaros, Greek composer and theorist (born 1795)

Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood, English politician, founded Fleetwood (born 1801)

Adoniram Judson, American lexicographer and missionary (born 1788)

Charles Messier, French astronomer and academic (born 1730)

Charles Burney, English composer and historian (born 1726)

Johann Kaspar Basselet von La Rosée, Bavarian general (born 1710)

Carlo Antonio Campioni, French-Italian composer (born 1719)

Metastasio, Italian-Austrian poet and composer (born 1698)

William Kent, English architect, designed Holkham Hall and Chiswick House (born 1685)

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, French bishop and theologian (born 1627)

Ambrose Dixon, English-American soldier (born 1619)

Nicola Amati, Italian instrument maker (born 1596)

Richard Bennett, English politician, colonial Governor of Virginia (born 1609)

Joanna, Queen of Castile and Aragon (born 1479)

Claude, Duke of Guise (born 1496)

Joanna La Beltraneja, Princess of Castile (born 1462)

Leonhard of Gorizia, Count of Gorz (born 1440)

Henry Chichele, English archbishop (born 1364)

Margaret of Bourbon, Queen of Navarre, regent of Navarre (born c. 1217)

Charles VII, king of Sweden (born c. 1130)

Vladislaus I, Duke of Bohemia (born 1065)

Eudokia Baïana, Byzantine empress and wife of Leo VI

Maximianus, archbishop of Constantinople

Julius I, pope of the Catholic Church

Gnaeus Pompeius, Roman general and politician (born 75 BC)

Children's Day (Bolivia)

Christian feast day: Adoniram Judson (Episcopal Church)

Christian feast day: Alferius

Christian feast day: Blessed Angelo Carletti di Chivasso

Christian feast day: Erkembode

Christian feast day: Pope Julius I

Christian feast day: Teresa of the Andes

Christian feast day: Zeno of Verona

Christian feast day: April 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin: Cosmonautics Day (Russia)

Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin: International Day of Human Space Flight

Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin: Yuri's Night (International observance)

Halifax Day (North Carolina)

National Redemption Day (Liberia)