Today In History [11th May, 2015]

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.

Today in History
May 12
254           St. Stephen I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.
1588           King Henry III flees Paris after Henry of Guise triumphantly enters the city.
1641           The chief advisor to Charles I, Thomas Wentworth, is beheaded in the Tower of London
1780           Charleston, South Carolina falls to British forces.
1851           The Tule River War ends.
1863           With a victory at the Battle of Raymond, Mississippi, Union General Ulysses S. Grant closes in on Vicksburg.
1864           Union General Benjamin Butler attacks Drewry's Bluff on the James River.
1865           The last land battle of the Civil war occurs at Palmito Ranch, Texas. It is a Confederate victory.
1881           Tunisia, in North Africa become a French protectorate.
1885           In the Battle of Batoche, French Canadians rebel against the Canadian government.
1926           The Airship Norge becomes the first vessel to fly over the North Pole.
1932           The body of Charles Lindbergh's baby is found.
1935           Alcoholics Anonymous is founded in Akron, Ohio by "Bill W.," a stockbroker, and "Dr. Bob S.," a heart surgeon.
1940           The Nazi conquest of France begins with the crossing Muese River.
1942           The Soviet Army launches its first major offensive of the war, taking Kharkov in the eastern Ukraine.
1943           Axis forces in North Africa surrender.
1949           The Berlin Blockade ends.
1969           Viet Cong sappers try unsuccessfully to overrun Landing Zone Snoopy in Vietnam.
1975           The U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez is seized by Cambodian forces.

Born on May 12
1812           Edward Lear, poet, painter and the youngest of 21 children.
1816           Edmund Beckett Grimthorpe, lawyer and architect.
1820           Florence Nightingale, English nurse and hospital reformer.
1828           Dante Gabriel Rossetti, English poet and painter.
1907           Katherine Hepburn, actress (The Philadelphia Story, The African Queen).
1915           Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics.
1921           Farley Mowat, Canadian nature writer (Never Cry Wolf).
1925           Yogi Berra (Lawrence Peter Berra), baseball player and coach.
1933           Andrey Andreyevich Voznesensky, Russian poet.
1936           Tom Snyder, newscaster and television host.
1936           Frank Stella, painter.