All Events

Historical Events on February 12

  • Pedro de Valdivia

    1541

    Santiago, Chile is founded by Pedro de Valdivia.

  • Siege of Haengju

    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.

  • Thirteen Colonies

    1733

    Englishman James Oglethorpe founds Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, and its first city at Savannah (known as Georgia Day).

  • Battle of Chacabuco

    1817

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

  • Galápagos Islands

    1832

    Ecuador annexes the Galápagos Islands.

  • Australian gold rushes

    1851

    Edward Hargraves announces he has found gold in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, starting the Australian gold rushes.

  • Isaac Woodard

    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.

  • Gateway Arch

    1963

    Construction begins on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

  • Impeachment of Bill Clinton

    1999

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