What Happened On This Day – January 12
2010 An earthquake kills 316,000 in Haiti
Most of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, was destroyed during the disaster.
1991 The U.S. Congress votes for war in Iraq
President George H. W. Bush was given the authority to use military force to expel Iraq from Kuwait.
1969 Led Zeppelin releases their debut album
The album was imaginatively named “Led Zeppelin”.
1967 James Bedford is frozen with intent of future resuscitation
Bedford was the first human to be cryonically preserved; his body awaits resuscitation in Scottsdale, Arizona.
1908 The first long-distance radio message is broadcast from the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Scientist Lee de Forest's broadcast was heard by an audience of 50.
Births On This Day – January 12
1968 Heather Mills
English model, activist
1917 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Indian guru
1916 P. W. Botha
South African politician, 1st State President of South Africa
1876 Jack London
American author
1729 Edmund Burke
Irish politician, philosopher
Deaths On This Day – January 12
2005 Amrish Puri
Indian actor
2003 Maurice Gibb
English singer-songwriter bass player, producer
1976 Agatha Christie
English author
1971 John Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey
English Admiral
1856 Ľudovít Štúr
Slovak politician, author