Birthdays & Historical Events – April 12

← National Days on April 12

Birthdays & Historical Events – April 12

Historical Events on April 12

Events that occurred on April 12 throughout history

1861

The American Civil War began when Confederate forces opened

The American Civil War began when Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter, South Carolina. It would be known by various names, including the War Between the States, War of Northern Aggression, War of the Rebellion, Great Rebellion, War for Southern Independence, and Freedom War. Four years later it would end on April 9, 1865, after dividing the country and 620,000 soldiers died.

1915

Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp released in the United

Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp released in the United States

1934

The Mount Washington Observatory records winds at 231 miles per hour

The Mount Washington Observatory records winds at 231 miles per hour.

1955

Epidemiologist and virologist Dr

Epidemiologist and virologist Dr. Thomas Francis Jr. announced that the polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk was up to 90% effective in preventing paralytic polio. Dr. Francis, the director of the Poliomyelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, made the announcement in Ann Arbor, Michigan with Dr. Jonas Salk.

1961

Aboard the Vostok 1, Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space

Aboard the Vostok 1, Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space. He orbited the Earth once before re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. Gagarin then ejected from Vostok 1 and parachuted to the ground separately from the spacecraft.