On This Day: 12 February

12 February in Indian history

• 1825The Creek cede the last of their lands in Georgia to the United States government by the Treaty of Indian Springs, and migrate west.India

12 February in world history

• 2026In the first general election since the July Revolution in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, wins a landslide victory upon returning to power after almost 19 years. A referendum held alongside was also approved by the majorit
• 2019The country known as the Republic of Macedonia renames itself the Republic of North Macedonia in accordance with the Prespa agreement, settling a long-standing naming dispute with Greece.
• 2016In the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba.
• 2009Just before landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashes into a house in Clarence Center, New York, killing the house's occupant and all 49 people on board the aircraft.
• 2004The city of San Francisco begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in response to a directive from Mayor Gavin Newsom.
• 2002The trial of Slobodan Milošević, the former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, begins at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. He dies four years later before its conclusion.
• 2001The NASA space probe NEAR Shoemaker touched down on Eros, becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid.
• 1988While claiming the right of innocent passage through Soviet territorial waters in the Black Sea, the American cruiser USS Yorktown and destroyer USS Caron were bumped by Soviet warships.
• 1963Construction begins on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.
• 1946African American United States Army veteran Isaac Woodard is severely beaten by a South Carolina police officer to the point where he loses his vision in both eyes. The incident later galvanizes the civil rights movement and partially inspires Orson Welles' fi
• 1945A devistating tornado outbreak across Mississippi and Alabama kills 45 people and injures 427 others.
• 1942The Imperial Japanese Army initiated the Battle of Pasir Panjang in Kent Ridge Park in Singapore.
• 1935USS Macon, one of the two largest helium-filled airships ever created, crashes into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California and sinks.
• 1924George Gershwin's composition Rhapsody in Blue premiered at Aeolian Hall in New York.
• 1894Ère des attentats: In one of the first acts of modern terrorism, Émile Henry threw a bomb into Café Terminus in Paris, France, killing one person and injuring 17 more.
• 1817An Argentine/Chilean patriotic army, after crossing the Andes, defeats Spanish troops at the Battle of Chacabuco.
• 1733Georgia Day: Englishman James Oglethorpe founds Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, by settling at Savannah.

Born on 12 February

• 1969Darren Aronofsky, American director, producer, and screenwriter
• 1963John Michael Higgins, American actor and comedian
• 1949Gundappa Viswanath, Indian cricketerIndia
• 1917Al Cervi, American basketball player and coach (died 2009)
• 1828George Meredith, English novelist and poet (died 1909)
• 1824Dayananda Saraswati, Indian monk and philosopher, founded Arya Samaj (died 1883)India

Died on 12 February

• 1983Eubie Blake, American pianist and composer (born 1887)
• 1979Jean Renoir, French actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1894)
• 1713Jahandar Shah, Mughal emperor (born 1664)India
• 1554Lord Guildford Dudley, Disputed Consort of the English Monarch, Husband of Lady Jane Grey (born c1535; executed)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 12 February in history?

2026: In the first general election since the July Revolution in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, wins a landslide victory upon returning to power after almost 19 years. A referendum held alongside was also approved by the majorit. 2019: The country known as the Republic of Macedonia renames itself the Republic of North Macedonia in accordance with the Prespa agreement, settling a long-standing naming dispute with Greece. 2016: In the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba. 2009: Just before landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashes into a house in Clarence Center, New York, killing the house's occupant and all 49 people on board the aircraft.

What happened on 12 February in Indian history?

1825: The Creek cede the last of their lands in Georgia to the United States government by the Treaty of Indian Springs, and migrate west.

Which famous people were born on 12 February?

Darren Aronofsky, American director, producer, and screenwriter (1969); John Michael Higgins, American actor and comedian (1963); Gundappa Viswanath, Indian cricketer (1949); Al Cervi, American basketball player and coach (died 2009) (1917).

Which day is observed on 12 February?

Georgia Day (Georgia (U.S. state)); Lincoln's Birthday (United States); Red Hand Day (United Nations); Union Day (Myanmar).