All Events

Historical Events on May 12

  • American Revolutionary War

    1780

    American Revolutionary War: In the largest defeat of the Continental Army, Charleston, South Carolina is taken by British forces.

  • Greek War of Independence

    1821

    The first major battle of the Greek War of Independence against the Turks is fought in Valtetsi.

  • American Civil War

    1862

    American Civil War: U.S. federal troops occupy Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

  • American Civil War

    1863

    American Civil War: Battle of Raymond: Two divisions of James B. McPherson's XVII Corps turn the left wing of Confederate General John C. Pemberton's defensive line on Fourteen Mile Creek, opening up the interior of Mississippi to the Union Army during the Vicksburg Campaign.

  • World War II

    1942

    World War II: Second Battle of Kharkov: In eastern Ukraine, Red Army forces under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko launch a major offensive from the Izium bridgehead, only to be encircled and destroyed by the troops of Army Group South two weeks later.

  • Soviet Union

    1949

    The Soviet Union lifts its blockade of Berlin.

  • Vietnam War

    1968

    Vietnam War: North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces attack Australian troops defending Fire Support Base Coral.

  • Jimmy Carter

    2002

    Former US President Jimmy Carter arrives in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro, becoming the first President of the United States, in or out of office, to visit the island since Castro's 1959 revolution.

  • 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

    2008

    An earthquake (measuring around 8.0 magnitude) occurs in Sichuan, China, killing over 69,000 people.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on May 12

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on May 12

11. May

13. May