Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
October 12 Monday, October 12, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 12 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
1962
Disaster 64 years ago
The Columbus Day Storm strikes the U.S. Pacific Northwest with record wind velocities. There was at least U.S. $230 million in damages and 46 people died.
The Columbus Day Storm devastates the Pacific Northwest with record wind velocities, causing over $230 million in damage and claiming 46 lives.
History
What happened on October 12
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -539World history
The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia conquer Babylon, ending the Babylonian empire. (Julian calendar)
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, marking the end of the Babylonian Empire and the beginning of Persian dominance in the region.
- 633European history
Battle of Hatfield Chase: King Edwin of Northumbria is defeated and killed by an alliance under Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon of Gwynedd.
King Edwin of Northumbria is defeated and killed in battle by an alliance led by Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon of Gwynedd.
- 1279Religion
The Nichiren Shōshū branch of Buddhism is founded in Japan.
Nichiren Shōshū, a branch of Nichiren Buddhism emphasizing the Lotus Sutra, is established in Japan following the death of the monk Nichiren.
- 1398European history
In the Treaty of Salynas, Lithuania cedes Samogitia to the Teutonic Knights.
Lithuania cedes the region of Samogitia to the Teutonic Knights in the Treaty of Salynas.
- 1406World history
Chen Yanxiang, the only person from Indonesia known to have visited dynastic Korea, reaches Seoul after having set out from Java four months before.
Chen Yanxiang arrives in Seoul, becoming the first recorded visitor from Indonesia to dynastic Korea.
- 1492World history
Christopher Columbus's first expedition makes landfall on San Salvador Island in the Caribbean. (Julian calendar)
Christopher Columbus sets foot on San Salvador Island, marking the start of European exploration and colonization in the Americas.
- 1654Disaster
The Delft Explosion devastates the city in the Netherlands, killing more than 100 people.
An explosion at a gunpowder magazine in Delft kills over 100 people and destroys much of the Dutch city.
- 1692US history
The Salem witch trials are ended by a letter from Province of Massachusetts Bay Governor William Phips.
Governor William Phips issues a letter ending the Salem witch trials.
- 1792US history
The first celebration of Columbus Day is held in New York City.
New York City hosts the inaugural Columbus Day celebration.
- 1798European history
Flemish and Luxembourgish peasants launch the rebellion against French rule known as the Peasants' War.
Flemish and Luxembourgish peasants begin their rebellion against French rule, marking the start of the Peasants' War.
- 1856Disaster
An M 7.7-8.3 earthquake off the Greek island of Crete cause major damage as far as Egypt and Malta.
A magnitude 7.7 to 8.3 earthquake strikes off Crete, causing widespread damage across Greece, Egypt, and Malta.
- 1962Disaster
The Columbus Day Storm strikes the U.S. Pacific Northwest with record wind velocities. There was at least U.S. $230 million in damages and 46 people died.
The Columbus Day Storm devastates the Pacific Northwest with record wind velocities, causing over $230 million in damage and claiming 46 lives.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 12
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 67
Anna Escobedo Cabral
American lawyer and politician, 42nd Treasurer of the United States
Anna Escobedo Cabral, who served as the 42nd Treasurer of the United States and later as Unit Chief for Strategic Communications at the Inter-American Development Bank, turns 67 today.
Born
1959
Turns 67
today
Trần Thánh Tông
emperor of Vietnam (then Đại Việt)
1240 – 1290
William J. Hardee
American general
1815 – 1873
Mariano Trías
Filipino general and politician, 1st Vice President of the Philippines
1868 – 1914
Art Clokey
American animator, producer, screenwriter, and voice actor, created Gumby
1921 – 2010
Bronzell Miller
American football player and actor
1971 – 2013
Giuseppe Lanzone
American rower
b. 1981 · 45
Music
The number one songs on October 12
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 12, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport October 12, 2019
Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya becomes the first person to run a marathon in less than two hours with a time of 1:59:40 in Vienna.
Eliud Kipchoge runs the first sub-two-hour marathon with a time of 1:59:40 in Vienna.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 12, 1964
The Soviet Union launches the Voskhod 1 into Earth orbit as the first spacecraft with a multi-person crew, and the first flight without pressure suits.
Voskhod 1 orbits Earth with three cosmonauts, marking the first multi-person crew in space and the first flight without pressure suits.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Children's Day (Brazil)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
Discovery of America by Columbus-related observances (see also October 8): Columbus Day (Honduras)
International
Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's ar
Discovery of America by Columbus-related observances (see also October 8): Día de la Hispanidad or Fiesta Nacional de España, also Armed Forces Day (Spain)
International
Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's ar
Discovery of America by Columbus-related observances (see also October 8): Día de la Raza (El Salvador, Uruguay)
International
Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's ar
Discovery of America by Columbus-related observances (see also October 8): Día de la Resistencia Indígena, "Day of Indigenous Resistance" (Venezuela)
International
Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's ar
Discovery of America by Columbus-related observances (see also October 8): Día de las Américas (Belize)
International
Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's ar