Discover what happened on July 12 in history, along with notable events, inventions, milestones, and moments that shaped America and the world.
What Happened on July 12 in History?
Important events on this day include the authorization of the Medal of Honor, Elvis Presley signing his first recording contract with Sun Records, the debut of Family Feud, the Rolling Stones’ first concert, and the introduction of the Etch-A-Sketch.
JULY 12 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1804 – Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton died, a day after being shot in a duel.
1862 – The Medal of Honor was authorized by the U.S. Congress.
1870 – William W. Lyman patented the first rotary can opener with a cutting wheel.
1912 – The foreign film “Queen Elizabeth” became the first foreign-made film to premiere in America.
1933 – A minimum wage of 40 cents per hour was established for U.S. workers.
1954 – The Major League Baseball Players Association was organized in Cleveland, OH.
1954 – Elvis Presley signed his first recording contract with Sun Records. He then quit his job as a truck driver.
1957 – Leroy E. Burney, the U.S. surgeon general, reported on a direct link between smoking and lung cancer.
1960 – The children’s drawing toy Etch-A-Sketch went on sale.
1962 – The Rolling Stones performed their first concert, at the Marquee Club in London, England.
1973 – A fire destroyed the entire sixth floor of the National Personal Records Center of the United States.
1976 – The game show “Family Feud” made its TV debut. Most famously hosted by the late Richard Dawson, the series continues today, with Steve Harvey as the emcee.
1979 – At Comiskey Park in Chicago, IL, an anti-disco radio promotion turned into a riot. The disturbance caused the White Sox to forfeit the second game of their double-header against the Detroit Tigers.
1982 – “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” earned over $100 million in ticket sales to break all box-office records. The movie did so within a month of it’s release.
1982 – After 59 years, the last Checker taxicab rolled off the assembly line in Kalamazoo, MI.
1984 – Democrat Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman to run for Vice President on a major-party ticket as she is named Walter Mondale’s running mate.
1991 – The movie “Boyz in the Hood”, starring Cuba Gooding Jr., was released in theaters.
1991 – The movie “Point Break”, starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, premiered in theaters.
1996 – Prince Charles and Princess Diana agreed to divorce.
1997 – HBO’s first one hour drama, “Oz”, debuted.
2000 – The movie “X-Men” premiered in New York.
2013 – The movie “Pacific Rim” was released in theaters.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JULY 12:
Elias James Corey – 98 years old (1928) – Chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Bill Cosby – 89 years old (1937) – Actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter
Mickey Edwards – 89 years old (1937) – Lawyer and politician
Bill Cooper – 87 years old (1939) – Football player
Swamp Dogg – 84 years old (1942) – R&B singer-songwriter and musician
Delia Ephron – 82 years old (1944) – Author, playwright, and screenwriter
Butch Hancock – 81 years old (1945) – Country-folk singer-songwriter and musician
Carl Lundgren – 79 years old (1947) – Artist and illustrator
Richard C. McCarty – 79 years old (1947) – Psychologist and academic
Ben Burtt – 78 years old (1948) – Director, screenwriter, and sound designer
Walter Egan – 78 years old (1948) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Rick Hendrick – 77 years old (1949) – Businessman, founded Hendrick Motorsports
Joan Bauer – 75 years old (1951) – Author
Brian Grazer – 75 years old (1951) – Screenwriter and producer, founded Imagine Entertainment
Cheryl Ladd – 75 years old (1951) – Actress
Jamey Sheridan – 75 years old (1951) – Actor
Eric Adams – 72 years old (1954) – Singer-songwriter
Robert Carl – 72 years old (1954) – Pianist and composer
Mel Harris – 70 years old (1956) – Actress
Sandi Patty – 70 years old (1956) – Singer and pianist
J. D. Hayworth – 68 years old (1958) – Politician and radio host
Dan Murphy – 64 years old (1962) – Musician
Joanna Shields – 64 years old (1962) – American-English businesswoman
Robin Wilson – 61 years old (1965) – Singer and guitarist
Jeff Bucknum – 60 years old (1966) – Race car driver
Mac McCaughan – 59 years old (1967) – Singer and guitarist
John Petrucci – 59 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Susan Tyler Witten – 56 years old (1970) – Politician
Loni Love – 55 years old (1971) – Comedian, actress, and talk show host
Kristi Yamaguchi – 55 years old (1971) – Figure skater
Gregory Shane Helms – 52 years old (1974) – Professional wrestler
Phil Lord – 51 years old (1975) – Filmmaker and actor
Tracie Spencer – 50 years old (1976) – Singer-songwriter and actress
Steve Howey – 49 years old (1977) – Actor
Brock Lesnar – 49 years old (1977) – Mixed martial artist and wrestler
Topher Grace – 48 years old (1978) – Actor
Michelle Rodriguez – 48 years old (1978) – Actress
Kristen Connolly – 46 years old (1980) – Actress
Jason Wright – 44 years old (1982) – Football player, businessman, and executive
Jonathan Lewis – 42 years old (1984) – Football player
Natalie Martinez – 42 years old (1984) – Actress
Patrick Beverley – 38 years old (1988) – Basketball player
LeSean McCoy – 38 years old (1988) – Football player
Nick Palmieri – 37 years old (1989) – Ice hockey player
Hilary Knight – 37 years old (1989) – Ice hockey player
Rachel Brosnahan – 36 years old (1990) – Actress
Erik Per Sullivan – 35 years old (1991) – Actor
Jordyn Wieber – 31 years old (1995) – Gymnast
Jordan Romero – 30 years old (1996) – Mountaineer
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JULY 12:
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
