Nicosia, Cyprus. Several notable events across politics, science, and history are recorded as having occurred on February 12.
Deaths and historical milestones
In 1929, actress Lily Langtry, known as King Edward VII’s mistress, died. In 1946, Operation Deadlight ended after 121 of 154 captured U-boats were scuttled.
Construction and crime
In 1963, construction began on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1993, two-year-old James Bulger was abducted in Manchester.
Politics and international justice
In 1996, Yasser Arafat took office as the first Palestinian president. In 1999, U.S. President Bill Clinton was acquitted in an impeachment trial. In 2002, the trial of Slobadan Milosevic opened in the Hague, where he was charged with crimes against humanity in Croatia and Kosovo and genocide in the 1992-95 Bosnian war.
Scientific and space milestones
In 2001, scientists celebrated the publication of the sequencing of the human genetic code. In 2001, the space probe NEAR Shoemaker made a bouncing landing on the asteroid Eros, marking the first time any craft had landed on this kind of space rock.
Which of these February 12 events do you think had the most lasting impact?