Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 911, Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. In 1723, Jean-François Marmontel, French historian and author (died 1799) was born. In 1760, Peggy Shippen, American wife of Benedict Arnold and American Revolutionary War spy (died 1804) was born. In 1789, Jacques Necker is dismissed as France's Finance Minister sparking the Storming of the Bastille. In 1798, The United States Marine Corps is re-established; they had been disbanded after the American Revolutionary War. In 1846, Léon Bloy, French author and poet (died 1917) was born. In 1893, A revolution led by the liberal general and politician José Santos Zelaya takes over state power in Nicaragua. In 1906, Murder of Grace Brown by Chester Gillette in the United States, inspiration for Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy. In 1940, World War II: Vichy France regime is formally established. Philippe Pétain becomes Chief of the French State. In 1960, France legislates for the independence of Dahomey (later Benin), Upper Volta (later Burkina Faso) and Niger. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.