Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1335, Pope Benedict XII issues the papal bull Fulgens sicut stella matutina to reform the Cistercian Order. In 1493, Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, one of the best-documented early printed books, is published. In 1789, In response to the dismissal of the French finance minister Jacques Necker, the radical journalist Camille Desmoulins gives a speech which results in the storming of the Bastille two days later. In 1806, At the insistence of Napoleon, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg and thirteen minor principalities leave the Holy Roman Empire and form the Confederation of the Rhine. In 1850, Otto Schoetensack, German anthropologist and academic (died 1912) was born. In 1863, Paul Drude, German physicist and academic (died 1906) was born. In 1868, Stefan George, German poet and translator (died 1933) was born. In 1909, Fritz Leonhardt, German engineer, designed Fernsehturm Stuttgart (died 1999) was born. In 1938, Wieger Mensonides, Dutch swimmer was born. In 1945, Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen, German field marshal (born 1895) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.