Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1826, Alexander Afanasyev, Russian ethnographer and author (died 1871) was born. In 1833, Noongar Australian aboriginal warrior Yagan, wanted for the murder of white colonists in Western Australia, is killed. In 1834, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, American-English painter and illustrator (died 1903) was born. In 1864, American Civil War: Battle of Fort Stevens; Confederate forces attempt to invade Washington, D.C. In 1882, The British Mediterranean Fleet begins the Bombardment of Alexandria in Egypt as part of the Anglo-Egyptian War. In 1906, Murder of Grace Brown by Chester Gillette in the United States, inspiration for Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy. In 1966, Nadeem Aslam, Pakistani-English author was born. In 1972, Cormac Battle, English-Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer was born. In 2011, Ninety-eight containers of explosives self-detonate killing 13 people in Zygi, Cyprus. In 2013, Emik Avakian, Iranian-American inventor (born 1923) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.