Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1850, Otto Schoetensack, German anthropologist and academic (died 1912) was born. In 1862, The Medal of Honor is authorized by the United States Congress. In 1863, Albert Calmette, French physician, bacteriologist, and immunologist (died 1933) was born. In 1900, Marcel Paul, French communist politician and Holocaust survivor (died 1982) was born. In 1909, Motoichi Kumagai, Japanese photographer and illustrator (died 2010) was born. In 1913, Willis Lamb, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2008) was born. In 1920, Pierre Berton, Canadian journalist and author (died 2004) was born. In 1948, Richard Simmons, American fitness trainer and actor (died 2024) was born. In 1967, Riots begin in Newark, New Jersey. In 1995, Chinese seismologists successfully predict the 1995 Myanmar-China earthquake, reducing the number of casualties to 11. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.