Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. 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 1864, American Civil War: Battle of Fort Stevens; Confederate forces attempt to invade Washington, D.C. In 1921, A truce in the Irish War of Independence comes into effect. In 1941, The Northern Rhodesian Labour Party holds its first congress in Nkana. In 1943, World War II: Allied invasion of Sicily: German and Italian troops launch a counter-attack on Allied forces in Sicily. In 1943, Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army within the Reichskommissariat Ukraine (Volhynia) peak. In 1960, Congo Crisis: The State of Katanga breaks away from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1972, Cormac Battle, English-Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer was born. In 1977, Martin Luther King Jr., assassinated in 1968, is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1995, Yugoslav Wars: Srebrenica massacre begins; lasts until 22 July. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.