Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1789, Jacques Necker is dismissed as France's Finance Minister sparking the Storming of the Bastille. In 1804, A duel occurs in which the Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr mortally wounds former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. In 1919, The eight-hour day and free Sunday become law for workers in the Netherlands. In 1944, Michael Levy, Baron Levy, English philanthropist was born. In 1953, Piyasvasti Amranand, Thai businessman and politician, Thai Minister of Energy was born. In 1960, France legislates for the independence of Dahomey (later Benin), Upper Volta (later Burkina Faso) and Niger. In 1962, First transatlantic satellite television transmission. In 1979, America's first space station, Skylab, is destroyed as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. In 1990, Oka Crisis: First Nations land dispute in Quebec begins. In 1994, Gary Kildall, American computer scientist, founded Digital Research (born 1942) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.