August 12

Scott Winters August 12, 2025 0 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1851 – Isaac Singer was issued a patent for his double-headed sewing machine.

1865 – Disinfectant was used for the first time during surgery by Joseph Lister.

1867 – President Andrew Johnson defied Congress by suspending Secretary of War Edwin. M. Stanton. This action sparked a move to impeach Johnson.

1877 – Thomas Edison invented the phonograph and made the first sound recording.

1898 – The Spanish-American War was ended with the signing of the peace protocol. The U.S. acquired Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Hawaii was also annexed.

1918 – Regular airmail service began between Washington, DC, and New York, NY.

1927 – Pilot Charles Lindbergh started his 26 city tour in Grand Rapids, MI. 100,000 people cheered him in a parade. His mother joined him and he took her for a plane ride in “The Spirit of St. Louis”.

1939 – “The Wizard of Oz” premiered at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, WI. The movie premiered in Hollywood on August 15th.

1942 – The U.S.S. Wolverine-IX 64, the Great Lakes’ first and only aircraft carrier, was commissioned at Buffalo, NY. The Wolverine was then moved to Chicago and used on Lake Michigan to train student aviators in carrier landings and takeoffs. Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush was among the pilots who learned to take off and land on the 500-foot long carrier deck.

1960 – NASA launched Echo A1 from Cape Canaveral, FL. It was their first successful communications satellite. It was a 100 ft metallic balloon that passively reflected signals.

1964 – Mickey Mantle set a major league baseball record when he hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game.

1966 – John Lennon apologized at a news conference in Chicago, IL, for his remark that “the Beatles are more popular than Jesus.”

1977 – The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

1981 – The IBM Personal Computer was released.

1986 – NASA announced that they had selected a new rocket design for the Space Shuttle. The move was made to correct flaws that were believed to have been responsible for the Challenger disaster.

1988 – The movie “The Last Temptation of Christ” opened in theaters.

1990 – Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton found to date, was discovered by Sue Hendrickson at a reserve in Faith, South Dakota.

1992 – The U.S., Canada, and Mexico announced that the North American Free Trade Agreement had been created after 14 months of negotiations.

1994 – Major league baseball players went on strike rather than allow team owners to limit their salaries. The strike lasted for 232 days. The strike forced the cancellation of the 1994 World Series for the first time in 90 years.

2003 – A computer virus called the Blaster worm infected a half-million computers. Minnesota teenager Jeffrey Lee Parson was later arrested for setting off the virus.

2016 – The movie “Sausage Party” was released. It would become the highest grossing R-rated animated movie of all time.

BIRTHDAYS:

George Hamilton – 86 years old (1939) – Actor (“Where the Boys Are”, “Love at First Bite”)

Larry Ziegler – 86 years old (1939) – Golfer

Mark Knopfler – 76 years old (1949) – Singer, guitarist (Dire Straits)

Sam J. Jones – 71 years old (1954) – Actor (“Flash Gordon”)

Pat Metheny – 71 years old (1954) – Guitarist (Pat Metheny Group)

Bruce Greenwood – 69 years old (1956) – Actor (“Thirteen Days”, “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”, played Captain Christopher Pike “Star Trek” and “Star Trek Into Darkness”)

Roy Hay – 64 years old (1961) – Keyboardist (Culture Club)

Sir Mix-A-Lot – 62 years old (1963) – Rapper

Peter Krause – 60 years old (1965) – Actor (TV’s “Parenthood”, “Six Feet Under”, “Sports Night”)

Michael Ian Black – 54 years old (1971) – Actor, comedian (TV’s “Ed”, “Stella”, “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp”, “Michael & Michael Have Issues”, “Another Period”)

Yvette Nicole Brown – 54 years old (1971) – Actress (TV’s “Community”)

Rebecca Gayheart – 54 years old (1971) – Actress (“Jawbreaker”, “Urban Legend”, “Scream 2”, TV’s “Dead Like Me”, “Wasteland”)

Pete Sampras – 54 years old (1971) – Tennis player

Casey Affleck – 50 years old (1975) – Actor (“The Assassination of Jesse James”, “Good Will Hunting”, “Gone Baby Gone”, “Ocean’s Eleven”, “Ocean’s Twelve”, “Ocean’s Thirteen”)

Maggie Lawson – 45 years old (1980) – Actress (TV’s “Psych”)

Dominique Swain – 45 years old (1980) – Actress (“Lolita”, “Face/Off”)

Cara Delevingne – 33 years old (1992) – Actress (“Paper Towns”, “Suicide Squad”)

TODAY IS:

World Elephant Day: Magnificent creatures with incredible memories and emotional intelligence that astound researchers and animal lovers alike.
National Vinyl Record Day: CDs and cassettes are fading into the past, but vinyl is more popular than ever. Support your local record shop, or dig out your favorite vinyl album.
National Julienne Fries Day: National Julienne Fries Day is a celebration dedicated to the delightful, thin-cut fries that have become a favorite side dish around the world. These fries, named after the Julienne cutting technique, are known for their crispy texture and slender shape. This day offers an opportunity to indulge in these delicious...
Baseball Fans Day: Amidst crackling excitement, camaraderie echoes, cheering for the crack of the bat and triumphant victories.
National Middle Child Day: Living in the shadow of your older siblings, competing for attention with your younger…Middle Child Day is a well-deserved day all about those middle kids.
National Gooey Butter Cake Day: Crafted with decadent layers, this St. Louis delicacy fuses sweetness and texture, creating an irresistible culinary masterpiece.
Texas Cowboy Poetry Week: Texas Cowboy Poetry Week is a vibrant celebration of cowboy culture and poetry. It marks an occasion where the tales and traditions of the American West come alive through verse and music. This event draws people from far and wide, offering a deep dive into the cowboy way of life...
Glorious Twelfth: The Glorious Twelfth marks the start of the grouse shooting season in the United Kingdom. It's a major event for hunting enthusiasts who flock to the moors to engage in this time-honored tradition. The day is celebrated with excitement and anticipation, drawing people to the countryside for a chance to...
The Thoughtful Traveller Day: Travelling is more than ticking places off a list. It’s about the moments that stay with you—the café on the corner with the best espresso, the vendor who shared a story along with fresh fruit, the path that led you off the map. The Thoughtful Traveller Day encourages people to...
Milkman Day: Milkman Day is a festive moment that honors the people who deliver fresh milk to doorsteps. It highlights their role in keeping families nourished with ease. This day gives us a chance to pause and see the care behind every bottle they leave. The mood feels warm and friendly. Words...
International Youth Day: Kids are the future. Support youth activities, organizations, and centers to help the youngest generation blossom and grow into brighter futures.
Queen’s Birthday in Thailand: In Thailand, the Queen's Birthday is a significant national event, celebrated as both a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and as Mother’s Day. This day holds a special place in the hearts of the Thai people, symbolizing their deep respect for the Queen, who is regarded as the "Mother...
Crayfish Party: Crayfish Party is a lively and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family. This event marks the end of summer, bringing people together for a joyful feast. Tables are often set with bright decorations, and the air is filled with laughter. The menu features cooked and seasoned crayfish. The atmosphere...
National School Grounds Week: National School Grounds Week is when we offer special attention to the outdoor play and learning areas that are part of children's development in our schools. The initiative comes from the UK children's charity, 'Learning Through Landscapes,' which values the work many groundskeepers invest in the school grounds. History of National...
Afternoon Tea Week: Host a British-inspired Afternoon Tea and plug that gap between lunch and dinner with tea, biscuits (cookies), scones, clotted cream, whatever you like.
Bullying No Way Week: Bullying No Way Week unites Australian schools, students, and families in tackling bullying together. This annual event urges young people to recognize bullying, understand its effects, and learn how to act against it. How to Observe Bullying No Way Week Here are some creative ways to join the National Day of Action...
Puck Fair: Puck Fair is a lively festival held in Killorglin, Ireland, where a goat is crowned as "King Puck" and honored by the town. This unique tradition, one of the oldest in Ireland, draws crowds eager to witness the crowning and take part in the festivities. The town comes alive with...
National Science Week: Science lovers have a very special week to look forward to every year—National Science Week. It is an exciting annual event that celebrates the wonders of science and technology. This week-long celebration aims to inspire people of all ages to engage with science through various activities and events. It's a...
Navasard: Navasard is the ancient Armenian New Year, a celebration that once united communities in festivities and tribute to their gods. Marking the start of a new cycle, it was a time when people believed divine forces came down to the Earth. With music, dance, and communal feasts, it reflected a...
National Bargain Hunting Week: Exploring discounts and deals, seekers unearth treasures while navigating the maze of savings, discovering hidden gems.