Simon Newcomb, Canadian-American astronomer and mathematician (died 1909)

Simon Newcomb was a Canadian–American astronomer, applied mathematician, and autodidactic polymath. He served as Professor of Mathematics in the United States Navy and at Johns Hopkins University. Born in Nova Scotia, at the age of 19 Newcomb left an apprenticeship to join his father in Massachusetts, where the latter was teaching.

March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 294 days remain until the end of the year.