Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1754, Thomas Bowdler, English physician and philanthropist (died 1825) was born. In 1789, Jacques Necker is dismissed as France's Finance Minister sparking the Storming of the Bastille. In 1797, Ienăchiță Văcărescu, Romanian historian and philologist (born 1740) passed away. In 1798, The United States Marine Corps is re-established; they had been disbanded after the American Revolutionary War. In 1930, Jack Alabaster, New Zealand cricketer (died 2024) was born. In 1934, Engelbert Zaschka of Germany flies his large human-powered aircraft, the Zaschka Human-Power Aircraft, about 20 meters at Berlin Tempelhof Airport without assisted take-off. In 1968, Daniel MacMaster, Canadian singer-songwriter (died 2008) was born. In 1977, Martin Luther King Jr., assassinated in 1968, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2014, John Seigenthaler, American journalist and academic (born 1927) passed away. In 2021, Richard Branson becomes the first civilian to be launched into space via his Virgin Galactic spacecraft. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.