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April 12: Fun Facts about Today in History

by James updated March 30, 2022, 2:45 am

Today in History

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On April 12, learn about the most interesting events and historical facts from across history. The 102nd day of the Gregorian calendar, April 12th, commemorates the first launch of the Columbia, NASA’s first space-rated orbiter, and President Bill Clinton is charged with contempt of court for lying in a civil complaint.

The 12th of April falls under the sign of Aries. David Cassidy, Andy Garcia, Shannen Doherty, Claire Danes, Brooklyn Decker, Jessie James Decker, and Saoirse Ronan all have April 12th birthdays.
National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day is April 12th.

Event
(April 12, 1961) Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, becomes the first human to journey into space and completes the first crewed orbital voyage, Vostok 1.
Advertisements (April 12, 1981) Columbia, NASA's first space shuttle, was launched on this day in 1981. Columbia was planned to orbit Earth, transport people and cargo to and from orbiting spacecraft, then glide down to Earth via a runway landing.
(April 12, 1983) Harold Washington was elected as Chicago's first African-American mayor.
(April 12, 1989) Sugar Ray Robinson, a six-time world champion and widely regarded as the greatest fighter in history, passed away in California.
(April 12, 2014) A forest fire surged through the coastal city of Valparaso, Chile, burning thousands of homes and killing at least 16 people before being put out several days later.
(Died on April 12, 2021) Shirley Williams, British politician and academic. (b. 1930).

Written by James

James has always been intrigued by dinosaurs, the universe, technology, and animals. With a Bachelor of Computer Science and years of writing expertise, he joined World Amazing Facts in 2021 as a staff writer.

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