May 12 is a special day in history. Many important things happened on this date. Some famous people were also born on May 12. In this article, we will learn about these events and people.
Historical Events on May 12
Many historical events happened today. We have selected some of them. Let’s check.
Gregory Conquers Julius Caesar
In 1701, a place called Drenthe in the Netherlands started using a new calendar. This calendar was called the Gregorian calendar. It was different from the old calendar they used before. This change occurred the day before April 29, 1701, in Drenthe.
Wilberforce’s First Abolition Speech
In 1789, a man named William Wilberforce gave a big speech. He talked about ending slavery. Slavery is when people are forced to work for no money. Wilberforce said slavery was wrong. His speech was important. It helped change people’s minds about slavery.
Darwin Visits Panuncillo Coal Mines
In 1835, a scientist named Charles Darwin visited some coal mines in Chile. The mines were called Panuncillo. Darwin was impressed with how hard the workers were working. He wrote about what he saw. This was an important part of his research.
Battle of Batoche
In 1885, there was a battle in a place called Batoche. It was between Louis Riel and his people, the Metis, and the government. The government won the battle. This led to the end of the Metis resistance. It was an important event in Canada’s history.
Second NAACP Conference
In 1910, a group called the NAACP had its second big meeting. The NAACP works to make things fair for African Americans. At the meeting, they talked about important issues. They made plans to help make life better for African Americans.
Famous Birthdays on May 12
Let’s have a look at some of the famous people born today.
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910)
Biography:
- Born: May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy
- Died: August 13, 1910, in London, England
- Known for: Pioneering modern nursing
Florence Nightingale was a nurse. She helped make nursing better. She was born in Italy in 1820. She took care of hurt soldiers during a war called the Crimean War. She made hospitals cleaner and safer. Her work saved many lives. She started a nursing school. It was the first of its kind. Florence Nightingale is known as the founder of modern nursing.
Jules Massenet (1842–1922)
Biography:
- Born: May 12, 1842, in Montaud, France
- Died: August 13, 1912 in Paris, France
- Known for: French opera composer
Jules Massenet was a music composer. He wrote operas. Operas are stories sung on stage. He was born in France in 1842. He went to music school in Paris. He started writing operas when he was 18. He wrote many famous operas, like “Manon” and “Werther”. His music was very popular. It had a big impact on French opera.
Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003)
Biography:
- Born: May 12, 1907, in Hartford, Connecticut
- Died: June 29, 2003, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut
- Known for: Acclaimed actress of stage and screen
Katharine Hepburn was an actress. She was in movies and plays. She was born in 1907 in Connecticut. She started acting on stage. Then she moved to Hollywood. She was in many famous movies, like “The African Queen” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”. She won four Oscars for Best Actress. That’s more than any other actress. She is remembered as one of the greatest actresses of all time.
Dorothy Hodgkin (1910-1994)
Biography:
- Born: May 12, 1910, in Cairo, Egypt
- Died: July 29, 1994, in Shipston-on-Stour, England
- Known for: Pioneering research in protein crystallography
Dorothy Hodgkin was a scientist. She studied molecules. Molecules are tiny things that make up everything. She was born in Egypt in 1910 but grew up in England. She used a method called crystallography to look at molecules. She figured out the shape of important molecules, like penicillin and vitamin B12. Her work helped make new medicines. She won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964.
Burt Bacharach (1928–2023)
Biography:
- Born: May 12, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri
- Died: February 8, 2023, in Los Angeles, California
- Known for: Acclaimed composer of popular music
Burt Bacharach was a composer. He wrote music for songs. He was born in 1928 in Missouri. He started writing songs in the 1950s. He worked with a lyricist named Hal David. Together, they wrote many hit songs. Some famous ones are “What the World Needs Now” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”. His songs won many Grammys and Oscars. He helped shape the sound of popular music for over 50 years.
Takeaways
May 12 is a date full of interesting history. Important things happened on this day many years ago. These events changed the world in different ways. May 12 is also the birthday of many remarkable people. These people made big contributions to nursing, music, movies, and science. Their lives and work continue to inspire us today.
Next time May 12 comes around, take a moment to remember these events and people. Think about how they helped make the world a better place. Maybe you can find ways to make a positive difference too, just like they did.
References:
- “Florence Nightingale.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 28 Apr. 2017, www.biography.com/people/florence-nightingale-9423539.
- “Jules Massenet.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22 Feb. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Jules-Massenet.
- “Katharine Hepburn.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 15 Apr. 2019, www.biography.com/actor/katharine-hepburn.
- “Dorothy Hodgkin.” Famous Scientists, famousscientists.org/dorothy-hodgkin/.
- “Burt Bacharach.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 9 Feb. 2023, www.biography.com/musician/burt-bacharach.
