Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 927, King Constantine II of Scotland, King Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, Ealdred of Bamburgh and King Owain of the Cumbrians accepted the overlordship of King Æthelstan of England, leading to seven years of peace in the north. In 1549, Edward Manners, 3rd Earl of Rutland (died 1587) was born. 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 1959, Tupou VI, King of Tonga was born. In 1962, Joanna Shields, American-English businesswoman was born. In 1979, The island nation of Kiribati becomes independent from the United Kingdom. In 1979, Olive Morris, Jamaican-English civil rights activist (born 1952) passed away. In 2000, Charles Merritt, Canadian colonel and politician, Victoria Cross recipient (born 1908) passed away. In 2005, John King, Baron King of Wartnaby, English businessman (born 1917) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.