This Day in History: What Happened Today in History – January 12

Jan 12, 2026, 00:52 IST

January 12 has witnessed many historic moments over the years. It is best known for the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, a powerful 7.0-magnitude quake that destroyed much of Port-au-Prince and affected millions. This day also marks early American history, including the death of General Hugh Mercer in 1777.

Every day has a history, and January 12 is no different. Have you ever wondered what big things happened on this date in the past? This day marks many memorable moments that shaped world history and culture.

On January 12, 2010, a powerful earthquake devastated Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands and leaving millions homeless. It is also the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, whose life and teachings are celebrated in India as National Youth Day every year.

In history, January 12 saw the start of the Zulu War in 1879, the first long-distance radio message broadcast from the Eiffel Tower in 1908, and the U.S. Congress authorising military action in the Gulf War in 1991. In sports, the New York Jets' stunning Super Bowl win in 1969 is remembered by fans.

In this article, we'll explore these events and more. We'll look at the people born or lost on this day, and why January 12 is remembered around the world.

What Happened On This Day—January 12?

Here's what happened in history on January 12:

1777 – Hugh Mercer Dies After Battle of Princeton

American Brigadier General Hugh Mercer died on January 12, 1777.
He suffered seven bayonet wounds during the Battle of Princeton.
Mercer served in three different armies.
He was born in Scotland and trained as a doctor.
He later became a key officer in the American Revolution

1838 – Joseph Smith Flees Ohio

On January 12, 1838, Joseph Smith fled Kirtland, Ohio.
His bank failed during the Panic of 1837.
He left to avoid arrest.
Smith travelled to Missouri to rebuild his religious community.
He claimed the angel Moroni visited him in 1823.

1888 – Schoolchildren's Blizzard Kills Hundreds

On January 12, 1888, a deadly blizzard struck the Northwest Plains.
It killed 235 people, many of them schoolchildren.
The storm came without warning.
Temperatures dropped nearly 100 degrees in one day.
The tragedy became known as the "Schoolchildren's Blizzard".

1904 – Henry Ford Sets Speed Record

On January 12, 1904, Henry Ford set a land-speed record.
He reached 91.37 mph on frozen Lake St Clair.
Ford drove a car called the "999".
The vehicle had a wooden frame and no body.
His record was broken one month later.

1919 – Big Four Leaders Meet in Paris

On January 12, 1919, leaders of the Big Four nations met in Paris.
They included leaders from the U.S., Britain, France, and Italy.
The meeting followed World War I.
It was held at the French Foreign Ministry.
These talks shaped the post-war world.

1926 – "Amos 'n' Andy" Radio Show Debuts

On January 12, 1926, "Sam’n' Henry" debuted on Chicago radio.
It later became "Amos 'n' Andy".
The show became extremely popular across the U.S.
It was created by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll.
It shaped early American radio entertainment.

1932 – First Woman Elected to U.S. Senate

On January 12, 1932, Hattie Wyatt Caraway made history.
She became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
She represented Arkansas
She was first appointed after her husband's death.
Her election broke a major political barrier.

1943 – Siege of Leningrad Broken

On January 12, 1943, Soviet forces broke the siege of Leningrad.
The city had been surrounded for 18 months.
Soviet troops opened a supply route.
Supplies came through Lake Ladoga.
The breakthrough saved countless lives.

1954 – U.S. Announces "Massive Retaliation" Policy

On January 12, 1954, the U.S. announced a new defence policy.
Secretary of State John Foster Dulles made the statement.
It focused on nuclear deterrence.
The policy aimed to stop Communist aggression.
It defined Cold War military strategy.

1967 – James Bedford Cryogenically Frozen

On January 12, 1967, James Bedford became the first American to be cryogenically frozen.
His body was preserved in liquid nitrogen.
The goal was possible future reanimation.
After cryonics companies shut down, his family stored the chamber themselves.
At one point, it was kept in self-storage.

1969 – Jets Win Super Bowl III

On January 12, 1969, the New York Jets won Super Bowl III.
They defeated the Baltimore Colts 16–7.
The game was played in Miami.
Joe Namath guaranteed the victory before the game.
It became one of sports' biggest upsets.

1981 – "Dynasty" Premieres on TV

On January 12, 1981, "Dynasty" premiered on ABC.
It began as a three-hour TV movie.
The show followed the wealthy Carrington family.
It ran for eight successful years.
"Dynasty" became a pop-culture phenomenon.

1986 – First Hispanic American in Space

On January 12, 1986, Franklin Chang-Diaz flew into space.
He became the first Hispanic American astronaut to orbit Earth.
The mission used Space Shuttle Columbia.
The shuttle orbited Earth 96 times.
It deployed satellites and conducted experiments.

1995 – Malcolm X's Daughter Arrested

On January 12, 1995, Qubilah Shabazz was arrested.
She was accused of plotting to kill Louis Farrakhan.
She believed he was responsible for her father's death.
Shabazz admitted responsibility but denied guilt.
The government later accepted a plea deal.

2010 – Massive Earthquake Strikes Haiti

On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti.
It caused widespread destruction across the country.
Hundreds of thousands of people were killed or injured.
Millions were left homeless after the disaster.
It remains one of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history.

Which Famous Personalities Were Born and Died on January 12?

January 12 marks notable birthdays and deaths of influential figures throughout history, celebrating legacies in the arts, science, and sports.

Notable Births on January 12

Jeff Bezos (1964)

American entrepreneur and founder of Amazon.
Founder of space company Blue Origin.

Howard Stern (1954)

Famous radio "shock jock".
Known for The Howard Stern Show.

Issa Rae (1985)

Actress, writer, and producer.
Creator and star of the TV series Insecure.

Notable Deaths on January 12

1976 – Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie died on January 12, 1976.
She was a famous English crime novelist.
She wrote many popular mystery books, like Murder on the Orient Express.
She is one of the best-selling authors in history.

2005 – Amrish Puri

Amrish Puri died on January 12, 2005.
He was a well-known Indian film actor.
He played many memorable villain roles in Bollywood.
International audiences know him as Mola Ram in Indiana Jones.

2003 – Maurice Gibb

Maurice Gibb died on January 12, 2003.
He was an English singer-songwriter and musician.
He was a member of the Bee Gees band.
The Bee Gees were known for disco hits like Stayin' Alive.

1971 – John Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey

Admiral John Tovey died on January 12, 1971.
He was a senior British naval officer.
He served in World War II.

1909 – Hermann Minkowski

Hermann Minkowski died on January 12, 1909.
He was a German mathematician.
He contributed to number theory and relativity theory.

Kriti Barua

Executive Content Writer

Kriti Barua is a professional content writer who has four years of experience in creating engaging and informative articles for various industries. She started her career as a creative writer intern at Wordloom Ventures and quickly developed a passion for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with readers.

Currently working as a content writer for the GK section of Jagran New Media, she continues to hone her skills in writing and strives to deliver high-quality content that educates and entertains readers.

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