Fact 1: A Pivotal Date in US History
July 12, 1862 saw the signing of the Medal of Honor into law by President Abraham Lincoln, cementing its place as America's highest and most prestigious military decoration.
Fact 2: Birth of a Tech Giant
Bill Gates officially registered Microsoft as a trademark on July 12, 1976. This software company eventually paved the way for a tech revolution and reshaped the world of business, technology and communications as we know it.
Fact 3: A Disaster in 1979
On this day in 1979, a disaster at a nuclear power plant in Church Rock, New Mexico occurred. A dam holding back radioactive waste broke, causing a significant environmental catastrophe, considered the largest release of radioactive material in U.S. history.
Fact 4: A Breakthrough in Cricket
July 12, 2002, marked a significant date in the world of cricket. Sri Lanka set a new record for the highest team total in Test innings when they scored a massive 952 for 6 declared against India.
Fact 5: Debuted a Saint
Pope Pius II, on July 12, 1461, canonized Saint Catherine of Siena – a key figure of the Catholic Church recognized for her spiritual writings.
Fact 6: The Last Beatles Concert
The Beatles performed their last concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, on July 12, 1966. The historic event marked an end to an era of iconic live performances by the globally beloved band.
Fact 7: Picasso's Theft
On July 12, 2011, a man walked into a San Francisco art gallery and walked out with a Picasso sketch worth more than $200,000 - one of the most audacious art thefts in recent memory.
Fact 8: A Historic Wimbledon Match
July 12, 1930, saw the longest women's singles match at Wimbledon, with Mrs. Fearnley-Whittingstall beating Miss Round in a 3-set match that lasted 2 hours and 7 minutes.
Fact 9: The Queen's Victory
Queen Anne of England won a libel case on July 12, 1702, proving that as a reigning monarch, she could not be sued without her permission.
Fact 10: The First Color TV
July 12, 1966 marked the first time a color TV program was broadcast in the UK. The program was Wimbledon Tennis Highlights.
Fact 11: The Start of Disco Demolition Night
A significant event in music history took place on July 12, 1979. The famed "Disco Demolition Night" event started, triggering the decline of disco music in the United States.
Fact 12: Singapore's Independence
July 12, 1967, is a vital date in Singapore's history when the country left the Malaysian Federation and issued its first independent currency, the Singapore dollar.
Fact 13: Birth of Amazon
July 12th, 1995, saw the birth of Amazon.com with its first sale, marking the beginning of the internet revolution and establishing an unrivaled giant in the eCommerce industry.
Fact 14: A Major Historic Union
On July 12, 927, the Kingdom of England was officially united for the first time under the reign of King Æthelstan.
Fact 15: A Major Hollywood Wedding
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, two of the most prominent stars in Hollywood, were married on July 12, 2014, drawing much media attention and captivating fans worldwide.
Fact 16: A Dark Day for Alaska
July 12, 1973, experienced a significant fire at the National Personal Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. An estimated 16-18 million military personnel records were lost, including those from Alaska and Puerto Rico.
Fact 17: Innovation in Television
July 12, 1979, marked the first time the popular game show "Family Feud" broadcast an hour-long episode, revolutionizing the format of television game shows.
Fact 18: Picasso's Historic Purchase
On July 12, 2006, a record was set when Pablo Picasso's portrait of Angel Fernández de Soto sold for £34,761,650 at Christie's in London.
Fact 19: Initial Telegram Around The World
On July 12, 1866, the first successful transatlantic cable was completed, creating a communication link between Europe and America.
Fact 20: The Journey of Apollo 11
The Apollo 11 astronauts, set to be the first men to land on the moon, went into quarantine on July 12, 1969, to avoid any potential biological contaminants they might bring back from space.