Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1789, In response to the dismissal of the French finance minister Jacques Necker, the radical journalist Camille Desmoulins gives a speech which results in the storming of the Bastille two days later. In 1801, British ships inflict heavy damage on Spanish and French ships in the Second Battle of Algeciras. In 1803, Peter Chanel, French priest and saint (died 1841) was born. In 1813, Claude Bernard, French physiologist and academic (died 1878) was born. In 1900, Marcel Paul, French communist politician and Holocaust survivor (died 1982) was born. In 1924, Michel d'Ornano, French politician (died 1991) was born. In 1962, Luc De Vos, Belgian singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2014) was born. In 1969, Chantal Jouanno, French politician, French Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports was born. In 1997, François Furet, French historian and author (born 1927) passed away. In 2013, Six people are killed and 200 injured in a French passenger train derailment in Brétigny-sur-Orge. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.