December 12 in History

Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju became the undisputed World Chess Champion in a tournament held in Singapore, making him the 18th and the youngest champion in chess history.

Dutch Formula One racing driver Max Verstappen wins the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton to become the first Formula One World Champion to come from the Netherlands.

The Paris Agreement relating to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is adopted.

North Korea successfully launches its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2.

Prime Minister of Vietnam Phan Văn Khải announces the decision on upgrading the Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng nature reserve to a national park, providing information on projects for the conservation and development of the park and revised maps.

The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits the Philippines's main island of Luzon, killing six people, injuring 40, and causing power outages that affected the capital Manila.

The Clapham Junction rail crash kills thirty-five and injures hundreds after two collisions of three commuter trains—one of the worst train crashes in the United Kingdom.

Arrow Air Flight 1285R, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8, crashes after takeoff in Gander, Newfoundland, killing all 256 people on board, including 236 members of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division.

The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami.

Coup d'état of December Twelfth occurs in South Korea.

The Piazza Fontana bombing; a bomb explodes at the headquarters of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura (the National Agricultural Bank) in Piazza Fontana in Milan, Italy, killing 17 people and wounding 88. The same afternoon, three more bombs are detonated in Rome and Milan, and another is found unexploded.

Kenya declares independence from Great Britain.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 121 relating to acceptance of Japan to the United Nations is adopted.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 13 relating to acceptance of Siam (now Thailand) to the United Nations is adopted.

The People's Republic of Korea is outlawed in the South, by order of the United States Army Military Government in Korea.

World War II: Fifty-four Japanese A6M Zero fighters raid Batangas Field, Philippines. Jesús Villamor and four Filipino fighter pilots fend them off; César Basa is killed.

The Holocaust: Adolf Hitler declares the imminent extermination of the Jews at a meeting in the Reich Chancellery.

HMS Duchess sinks after a collision with HMS Barham off the coast of Scotland with the loss of 124 men.

Winter War: The Battle of Tolvajärvi, also known as the first major Finnish victory in the Winter War, begins.

Second Sino-Japanese War: USS Panay incident: Japanese aircraft bomb and sink U.S. gunboat USS Panay on the Yangtze river in China.

The beginning of Xi'an incident. As a result, Chiang Kai Shek is captured.

The Lebensborn Project, a Nazi reproduction program, is founded by Heinrich Himmler.

Father Edward J. Flanagan founds Boys Town as a farm village for wayward boys.

Yuan Shikai declares the establishment of the Empire of China and proclaims himself Emperor.

Guglielmo Marconi receives the first transatlantic radio signal (the letter "S" [•••] in Morse Code), at Signal Hill in St John's, Newfoundland.

Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina becomes the second black U.S. congressman.

Oaks explosion: The worst mining disaster in England kills 361 miners and rescuers.

American Civil War: USS Cairo sinks on the Yazoo River.

Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the US Constitution.

Maria of Enghien sells the lordship of Argos and Nauplia to the Republic of Venice.

Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II's Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh.

Michael Olise, French footballer

Ed Oliver, American football player

Lucas Hedges, American actor

Otto Warmbier, American student imprisoned in North Korea (died 2017)

Zeli Ismail, English footballer

Shohjahon Ergashev, Uzbek professional boxer

Joseph Leilua, Australian-Samoan rugby league player

Nixon Chepseba, Kenyan runner

Dawin, American singer-songwriter

Victor Moses, Nigerian footballer

Tyron Smith, American football player

Isaac John, New Zealand rugby league player

Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Israeli Olympic marathon runner

Daddy Birori, Rwandan footballer

Përparim Hetemaj, Finnish footballer

Nina Kolarič, Slovenian long jumper

T. J. Ward, American football player

Pat Calathes, Greek-American basketball player

Andrew Ladd, Canadian ice hockey player

Daniel Agger, Danish footballer

Roni Porokara, Finnish footballer

Ervin Santana, Dominican baseball player

Dmitry Tursunov, Russian tennis player and coach

Eddie Kingston, American wrestler

Pedro Ríos, Spanish footballer

Yuvraj Singh, Indian cricketer

Stephen Warnock, English footballer

Andrew Whitworth, American football player and commentator

Dejene Berhanu, Ethiopian runner (died 2010)

Dorin Goian, Romanian footballer

Garrett Atkins, American baseball player

Nate Clements, American football player

John Salmons, American basketball player

Yoel Hernández, Cuban hurdler

Orlando Hudson, American baseball player

Dean Macey, English decathlete and bobsledder

Colin White, Canadian ice hockey player

Mayim Bialik, American actress, neuroscientist, and author

Craig Moore, Australian footballer and manager

Bernard Lagat, Kenyan-American runner

Nolberto Solano, Peruvian footballer and manager

Nicky Eaden, English footballer and coach

Craig Field, Australian rugby league player

Wilson Kipketer, Kenyan-Danish runner

Georgios Theodoridis, Greek sprinter

Sammy Korir, Kenyan runner

Mädchen Amick, American actress and director

Tahir Bilgiç Turkish-Australian comedian and actor

Jennifer Connelly, American actress

Regina Hall, American actress

Wilfred Kirochi, Kenyan runner

Fiona May, English-Italian long jumper

Michael Möllenbeck, German discus thrower (died 2022)

Sašo Udovič, Slovenian footballer

John Randle, American football player

Russell Batiste Jr., American funk and R&B drummer (died 2023)

Will Carling, English rugby union player

Haywood Jeffires, American football player and coach

Sabu, American wrestler(died 2025)

Eduardo Castro Luque, Mexican businessman and politician (died 2012)

Tracy Austin, American tennis player and sportscaster

Arturo Barrios, Mexican-American runner

Mike Golic, American football player and radio host

Andrey Perlov, Russian race walker

Martina Hellmann, German discus thrower

Sheree J. Wilson, American actress

Sheila E., American singer and musician

Johan van der Velde, Dutch cyclist

Chris Phelan, Irish-Australian rugby league player (died 2026)

Eddy Schepers, Belgian cyclist

Stephen Smith, Australian politician

Martin Ferguson, Australian lawyer and politician

Rafael Septién, Mexican-American football player

Cathy Rigby, American gymnast

Rehman Malik, Pakistani politician, Pakistani Minister of Interior (died 2022)

Pedro Ferriz de Con, Mexican journalist

Heiner Flassbeck, German economist and academic

Rajinikanth, Indian actor

Billy Smith, Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and manager

Gorman Thomas, American baseball player

Bill Nighy, English actor

Marc Ravalomanana, Malagasy businessman and politician, President of Madagascar

David Abulafia, English historian (died 2026)

Randy Smith, American basketball player (died 2009)

Colin Todd, English football player and coach

Wings Hauser, American actor (died 2025)

Don Keith, American writer

Chris Mullin, English journalist and politician

Emerson Fittipaldi, Brazilian racing driver

Gísli S. Einarsson, Icelandic politician

Tony Williams, American drummer, composer, and producer (died 1997)

Dickey Betts, American musician and songwriter (died 2024)

Grover Washington, Jr., American singer-songwriter, saxophonist, and producer (died 1999)

Bob Thompson, American jazz pianist, composer and arranger

Sharad Pawar, Indian politician, Indian Minister of Agriculture

Dionne Warwick, American singer

Connie Francis, American singer, musician, and actress (died 2025)

Philip Ledger, English pianist, composer, and academic (died 2012)

Iolanda Balaș, Romanian high jumper and educator (died 2016)

Miguel de la Madrid, Mexican lawyer and politician, 52nd President of Mexico (died 2012)

Christa Stubnick, German sprinter (died 2021)

Bob Pettit, American basketball player and coach

Toshiko Akiyoshi, Japanese pianist and composer

Helen Frankenthaler, American painter and academic (died 2011)

Robert Noyce, American inventor and businessman, co-founded the Intel Corporation (died 1990)

Étienne-Émile Baulieu, French biochemist and endocrinologist (died 2025)

Ted Kennedy, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2009)

Dattu Phadkar, Indian cricketer (died 1985)

Vladimir Shainsky, Ukrainian-Russian pianist and composer (died 2017)

Ed Koch, American politician, 105th Mayor of New York City (died 2013)

Bob Barker, American game show host and producer (died 2023)

Bob Dorough, American musician, composer, and producer (died 2018)

Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, Ethiopian pianist, composer and nun (died 2023)

Josef Doležal, Czech race walker (died 1999)

Joe Williams, American singer and pianist (died 1999)

Frank Sinatra, American singer, actor, and producer (died 1998)

Patrick O'Brian, English author (died 2000)

Henry Armstrong, American boxer (died 1988)

Roy Douglas, English pianist and composer (died 2015)

Harald Kaarmann, Estonian footballer (died 1942)

Edward G. Robinson, American actor (died 1973)

Louise Thuliez, French school teacher, resistance fighter during World War I and World War II and author (died 1966)

Alvin Kraenzlein, American hurdler and runner (died 1928)

Walter Benona Sharp, American businessman, co-founded Hughes Tool Company (died 1912)

Alfred Werner, Swiss chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1919)

Edvard Munch, Norwegian painter (died 1944)

Bruce Price, American architect, designed the American Surety Building and Bank of the Metropolis (died 1903)

Adolf Bötticher, German journalist and historian (died 1901)

Joseph Orville Shelby, Confederate general (died 1897)

Gustave Flaubert, French novelist (died 1880)

John Sandfield Macdonald, Canadian lawyer and politician, 1st Premier of Ontario (died 1872)

Stand Watie, American general (died 1871)

Henry Wells, American businessman, co-founded Wells Fargo and American Express (died 1878)

Karl Bryullov, Russian painter (died 1852)

William L. Marcy, American lawyer, judge, and politician, 21st United States Secretary of State (died 1857)

Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood, English admiral and politician (died 1816)

Lodovico Giustini, Italian pianist and composer (died 1743)

Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz, Spanish admiral (died 1588)

Vicente Fernández, Mexican actor, ranchera singer, and film producer (born 1940)

Bernie Fowler, American politician and environmental advocate (born 1924)

Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, Tongan politician and military officer, Deputy Prime Minister (born 1955)

John le Carré, English author (born 1931)

Ann Reinking, American actress, dancer, and choreographer (born 1949)

Danny Aiello, American actor (born 1933)

Ed Lee, American politician and attorney, 43rd Mayor of San Francisco (born 1952)

Pat DiNizio, American singer and songwriter (born 1955)

Shirley Hazzard, Australian-American novelist, short story writer, and essayist (born 1931)

Frans Geurtsen, Dutch footballer (born 1942)

Evelyn S. Lieberman, American politician, White House Deputy Chief of Staff (born 1944)

Norman Bridwell, American author and illustrator, created Clifford the Big Red Dog (born 1928)

Ivor Grattan-Guinness, English mathematician, historian, and academic (born 1941)

Herb Plews, American baseball player (born 1928)

Tom Laughlin, American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator, and activist (born 1931)

Abdul Quader Molla, Bangladeshi journalist and politician (born 1948)

Audrey Totter, American actress (born 1917)

Joe Allbritton, American banker, publisher, and philanthropist, founded the Allbritton Communications Company (born 1924)

David Tait, English rugby player (born 1987)

Tom Walkinshaw, Scottish race car driver, founded Tom Walkinshaw Racing (born 1946)

Avery Dulles, American cardinal and theologian (born 1918)

Van Johnson, American actor (born 1916)

François al-Hajj, Lebanese general (born 1953)

Ike Turner, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1931)

Paul Arizin, American basketball player (born 1928)

Peter Boyle, American actor (born 1935)

Raymond P. Shafer, American attorney and politician, 39th Governor of Pennsylvania (born 1917)

Alan Shugart, American engineer and businessman, co-founded Seagate Technology (born 1930)

Robert Newmyer, American actor and producer (born 1956)

Annette Stroyberg, Danish actress (born 1936)

Gebran Tueni, Lebanese journalist and politician (born 1957)

Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijani general and politician, 3rd President of Azerbaijan (born 1923)

Dee Brown, American historian and author (born 1908)

Ardito Desio, Italian geologist and explorer (born 1897)

Paul Cadmus, American painter and illustrator (born 1904)

Joseph Heller, American novelist, short story writer, and playwright(born 1923)

Lawton Chiles, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 41st Governor of Florida (born 1930)

Morris Udall, American captain and politician (born 1922)

Evgenii Landis, Ukrainian-Russian mathematician and academic (born 1921)

Vance Packard, American journalist, author, and critic (born 1914)

Stuart Roosa, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (born 1933)

József Antall, Hungarian historian and politician, 35th Prime Minister of Hungary (born 1932)

Anne Baxter, American actress (born 1923)

Ian Stewart, Scottish keyboardist and manager (born 1938)

Jean Lesage, Canadian lawyer and politician, 19th Premier of Quebec (born 1912)

Richard Baggallay, English colonel and cricketer (born 1884)

Doris Blackburn, Australian politician (born 1889)

Tallulah Bankhead, American actress (born 1902)

Karl Ruberl, Austrian-American swimmer (born 1880)

Albert Walsh, Canadian lawyer and politician, 1st Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland (born 1900)

Mildred Bailey, American singer (born 1907)

Marjory Stephenson, British biochemist (born 1885)

César Basa, Filipino lieutenant and pilot (born 1915)

Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., American actor, producer, and screenwriter (born 1883)

Thorleif Haug, Norwegian skier (born 1894)

Raymond Radiguet, French author and poet (born 1903)

Henrietta Swan Leavitt, American astronomer and academic (born 1868)

Menelik II, Ethiopian emperor (born 1844)

John Sparrow David Thompson, Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician, 4th Prime Minister of Canada (born 1845)

Viktor Bunyakovsky, Ukrainian-Russian mathematician and theorist (born 1804)

Jacques Viger, Canadian archeologist and politician, 1st Mayor of Montreal (born 1787)

Prince Frederick Adolf of Sweden (born 1750)

Meshullam Feivush Heller, Ukrainian author (born 1742)

Johann Christoph Gottsched, German philosopher, author, and critic (born 1700)

Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, English philosopher and politician, Secretary at War (born 1678)

Loredana Marcello, Dogaressa of Venice, botanist, author

Isabella of Mar, first wife of Robert Bruce VII (born 1277)

Maimonides, Jewish physician, philosopher, and scholar (born 1135 or 1138)

King Carloman II of the Franks (born c.866; hunting accident)