Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1468, Juan del Encina, Spanish poet, playwright, and composer (probable; (died 1530) was born. In 1562, Fray Diego de Landa, acting Bishop of Yucatán, burns the sacred idols and books of the Maya. In 1790, The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is passed in France by the National Constituent Assembly. In 1801, British ships inflict heavy damage on Spanish and French ships in the Second Battle of Algeciras. In 1852, Hipólito Yrigoyen, Argentinian lawyer and politician, 19th President of Argentina (died 1933) was born. In 1904, Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet and diplomat, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1973) was born. In 1917, The Bisbee Deportation occurs as vigilantes kidnap and deport nearly 1,300 striking miners and others from Bisbee, Arizona. In 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe declare independence from Portugal. In 1995, Chinese seismologists successfully predict the 1995 Myanmar-China earthquake, reducing the number of casualties to 11. In 2012, Syrian Civil War: Government forces target the homes of rebels and activists in Tremseh and kill anywhere between 68 and 150 people. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.