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On This Day

August 12

YEAR 1981

The IBM Personal Computer is released.

The IBM Personal Computer is released.

YEAR 1977

The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

YEAR 1964

South Africa is banned from the Olympic Games due to the country's racist policies.

South Africa is banned from the Olympic Games due to the country's racist policies.

YEAR 1960

Echo 1A, NASA's first successful communications satellite, is launched.

Echo 1A, NASA's first successful communications satellite, is launched.

YEAR 1944

Alençon is liberated by General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the first city in France to be liberated from the Nazis by French forces.

Alençon is liberated by General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the first city in France to be liberated from the Nazis by French forces.

YEAR 1914

World War I: France, the United Kingdom and the British Empire declare war on Austria-Hungary.

World War I: France, the United Kingdom and the British Empire declare war on Austria-Hungary.

YEAR 1914

World War I: The Battle of Halen a.k.a. Battle of the Silver Helmets a clash between large Belgian and German cavalry formations at Halen, Belgium.

World War I: The Battle of Halen a.k.a. Battle of the Silver Helmets a clash between large Belgian and German cavalry formations at Halen, Belgium.

YEAR 1865

Joseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs the first antiseptic surgery.

Joseph Lister, British surgeon and scientist, performs the first antiseptic surgery.

YEAR 1851

Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine.

Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine.

YEAR 1831

French intervention forces William I of the Netherlands to abandon his attempt to suppress the Belgian Revolution.

French intervention forces William I of the Netherlands to abandon his attempt to suppress the Belgian Revolution.

YEAR 1806

Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina after the first British invasion.

Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina after the first British invasion.

YEAR 1765

Treaty of Allahabad is signed. The Treaty marks the political and constitutional involvement and the beginning of Company rule in India.

Treaty of Allahabad is signed. The Treaty marks the political and constitutional involvement and the beginning of Company rule in India.

YEAR 1687

Battle of Mohács: Charles of Lorraine defeats the Ottoman Empire.

Battle of Mohács: Charles of Lorraine defeats the Ottoman Empire.

YEAR 1676

Praying Indian John Alderman shoots and kills Metacomet, the Wampanoag war chief, ending King Philip's War.

Praying Indian John Alderman shoots and kills Metacomet, the Wampanoag war chief, ending King Philip's War.

YEAR 1499

First engagement of the Battle of Zonchio between Venetian and Ottoman fleets.

First engagement of the Battle of Zonchio between Venetian and Ottoman fleets.

YEAR 1492

Christopher Columbus arrives in the Canary Islands on his first voyage to the New World.

Christopher Columbus arrives in the Canary Islands on his first voyage to the New World.

YEAR 1323

The Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and Novgorod Republic is signed, regulating the border between the two countries for the first time.

The Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and Novgorod Republic is signed, regulating the border between the two countries for the first time.

YEAR 1121

Battle of Didgori: The Georgian army under King David IV wins a decisive victory over the famous Seljuk commander Ilghazi.

Battle of Didgori: The Georgian army under King David IV wins a decisive victory over the famous Seljuk commander Ilghazi.

YEAR 1099

First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is consider...

First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.