Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1735, Mathematical calculations suggest that it is on this day that dwarf planet Pluto moved inside the orbit of Neptune for the last time before 1979. In 1760, Peggy Shippen, American wife of Benedict Arnold and American Revolutionary War spy (died 1804) was born. In 1767, John Quincy Adams, American lawyer and politician, 6th President of the United States (died 1848) was born. In 1796, The United States takes possession of Detroit from Great Britain under terms of the Jay Treaty. In 1801, French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons makes his first comet discovery. In the next 27 years he discovers another 36 comets, more than any other person in history. In 1806, James Smith, Irish-American lawyer and politician (born 1719) passed away. In 1921, Former president of the United States William Howard Taft is sworn in as 10th chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the only person ever to hold both offices. In 1971, The nationalization of all large copper mines in Chile is completed. In 1979, America's first space station, Skylab, is destroyed as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. In 2004, Laurance Rockefeller, American financier and philanthropist (born 1910) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.