Today in History
1984 Walter F. Mondale Names Geraldine A. Ferraro as Running Mate in Presidential Elections
Geraldine A. Ferraro, a New York Congresswoman, became the first woman in the United States to run for office on a major party ticket.
1975 São Tomé and Príncipe gains independence from Portuguese rule
The Portuguese discovered and colonised the island nation in the 16th century. For more than 200 years, its economy was driven by African slaves who grew sugar, coffee, and cocoa. Manuel Pinto da Costa was elected as the country’s first president.
1967 Race riots break out in Newark, New Jersey, killing 26 people and injuring several others
The violence began when two white policemen arrested a black cab driver.
1962 First performance of the Rolling Stones
The British rock band performed for the first time as a group at the Marquee Club in London.
1920 Moscow Peace Treaty is signed
The treaty, also known as the Soviet-Lithuanian Peace Treaty, was signed between Lithuania and the Soviet Union. In exchange for neutrality and safe passage for Russian troops to Poland, it recognised Lithuanian sovereignty.
Births On This Day, July 12
1997 Malala Yousafzai
Pakistani activist
1937 Bill Cosby
American comedian, actor, producer, author
1904 Pablo Neruda
Chilean poet, Nobel Prize laureate
1884 Amedeo Modigliani
Italian painter, sculptor
1817 Henry David Thoreau
American writer, philosopher
Deaths On This Day, July 12
2013 Amar Bose
American sound engineer, entrepreneur
2010 Harvey Pekar
American author
1926 Gertrude Bell
British government administrator, writer, spy, archaeologist
1804 Alexander Hamilton
Nevisian/American economist, politician, philosopher, 1st United States Secretary of the Treasury
1536 Desiderius Erasmus
Dutch theologian, priest
