Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 813, Byzantine emperor Michael I, under threat by conspiracies, abdicates in favor of his general Leo the Armenian, and becomes a monk (under the name Athanasius). In 1760, Peggy Shippen, American wife of Benedict Arnold and American Revolutionary War spy (died 1804) was born. In 1844, Yevgeny Baratynsky, Russian philosopher and poet (born 1800) passed away. In 1882, James Larkin White, American miner, explorer, and park ranger (died 1946) was born. In 1916, Mortimer Caplin, American tax attorney, educator, and IRS Commissioner (died 2019) was born. In 1930, Ezra Vogel, American sociologist (died 2020) was born. In 1934, Clark R. Rasmussen, American politician (died 2024) was born. In 1943, Richard Carleton, Australian journalist (died 2006) was born. In 1979, America's first space station, Skylab, is destroyed as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. In 2005, Gretchen Franklin, English actress and dancer (born 1911) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.