February 12 in History

Historical Events on February 12

1593 Japanese invasion of Korea: Approximately 3,000 Joseon defenders led by general Kwon Yul successfully repel more than 30,000 Japanese forces in the Siege of Haengju.

1817 An Argentine/Chilean patriotic army, after crossing the Andes, defeats Spanish troops on the Battle of Chacabuco.

1832 Ecuador annexes the Galápagos Islands.

1946 African American United States Army veteran Isaac Woodard is severely beaten by a South Carolina police officer to the point where he loses his vision in both eyes. The incident later galvanizes the Civil Rights Movement and partially inspires Orson Welles' film Touch of Evil.

1963 Construction begins on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

1965 Malcolm X visits Smethwick following the racial charged 1964 general election.[1]

1983 One hundred women protest in Lahore, Pakistan against military dictator Zia-ul-Haq's proposed Law of Evidence. The women were tear-gassed, baton-charged and thrown into lock-up. The women were successful in repealing the law.

1999 United States President Bill Clinton is acquitted by the United States Senate in his impeachment trial.

2004 The city of San Francisco begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in response to a directive from Mayor Gavin Newsom.

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Famous Birthdays on February 12

1809 Charles Darwin

1809 Abraham Lincoln

1934 Bill Russell

1984 Brad Keselowski

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Famous Deaths on February 12

1789 Ethan Allen

1804 Immanuel Kant

1834 Friedrich Schleiermacher

1929 Lillie Langtry

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