January 12 in History

43 events 475 – 2020

January 12 spans 43 recorded events across recorded history — from 475 – 2020. Below is a curated digest of the most significant moments tied to this date.

By · Wikipedia

Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupts and kills 39 people.

2020 — Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupts and kills 39 people

Did you know

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) monitors volcanic activity in the Philippines, including Taal Volcano.

Did you know

Taal Volcano is located in Batangas, Philippines, and its eruptions affect nearby regions such as Calabarzon and Metro Manila.

Did you know

The 2020 eruption of Taal Volcano temporarily dried up Taal Main Crater Lake and destroyed Vulcan Point, an island in the lake.

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Smaller eruptions of Taal Volcano occurred in July 2021, after the initial eruption in January 2020.

Did you know

On March 26, 2022, PHIVOLCS raised the alert level of Taal Volcano from 2 to 3 due to a short-lived phreatomagmatic eruption.


Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople, and his general, Basiliscus gains control of the empire.
The foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman/Byzantine, which fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as legitimate rulers and exercised sovereign authority are included, to the exclusion of junior co-emperors who never attained the status of sole or senior ruler, as well as of the various usurpers or rebels who claimed the imperial title.
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475
Gustav I of Sweden is crowned King of Sweden, having already reigned since his election in June 1523.
King of Sweden from 1523 to 1560
Gustav Eriksson Vasa, also known as Gustav I, was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560. He was previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm (Riksföreståndare) from 1521, during the Swedish War of Liberation against King Christian II of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Gustav rose to lead this war following the Stockholm Bloodbath, where his father was executed. Gustav's election as king on 6 June 1523 and his triumphant entry into Stockholm eleven days later marked Sweden's final secession from the Kalmar Union.
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1528
Bayinnaung, who would go on to assemble the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, is crowned King of Burma.
Emperor of the Toungoo dynasty
Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta; 16 January 1516 – 10 October 1581), personal name Maung Yeh Htut (ရှင်ရဲထွတ်), was King of Burma from 30 April 1550 until his death in 1581, during the Toungoo dynasty. His reign is considered one of the most momentous in Burmese history, famously described as "the greatest explosion of human energy ever seen in Burma". During his rule, he assembled the largest empire in Southeast Asian history, which encompassed much of present-day Myanmar, as well as the Shan States, Lan Na, Lan Xang, Manipur, and the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
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1554
The city of Belém, Brazil is founded on the Amazon River delta by Portuguese captain Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco.
Capital and largest city of Pará, Brazil
Belém, often called Belém of Pará, is the capital and largest city of the state of Pará in the north of Brazil. It is the gateway to the Amazon River with a busy port, airport, and bus/coach station. Belém lies approximately 100 km upriver from the Atlantic Ocean, on the Pará River, which is part of the greater Amazon River system, separated from the larger part of the Amazon delta by Ilha de Marajó. With an estimated population of 1,398,531 people — or 2,491,052, considering its metropolitan area — it is the 12th most populous city in Brazil, as well as the 16th by economic relevance. It is the second largest in the North Region, second only to Manaus, in the state of Amazonas.
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1616
Federalist Thomas Pinckney appointed first U.S.
minister to Britain.
Thomas Pinckney was an American statesman, diplomat, and military officer who fought in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, achieving the rank of major general. He served as 36th governor of South Carolina and as the U.S. minister to Great Britain.
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1792
John Rennie's scheme to defend St Mary's Church, Reculver, founded in 669, from coastal erosion is abandoned in favour of demolition, despite the church being an exemplar of Anglo-Saxon architecture and sculpture.
Scottish civil engineer (1761–1821)
John Rennie was a Scottish civil engineer who designed many bridges, canals, docks and warehouses, and a pioneer in the use of structural cast-iron.
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1808
The organizational meeting leading to the creation of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, is held in Edinburgh.
Learned society in Scotland (1808–58)
The Wernerian Natural History Society, commonly abbreviated as the Wernerian Society, was a learned society interested in the broad field of natural history, and saw papers presented on various topics such as mineralogy, plants, insects, and scholarly expeditions. The Society was an offshoot of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and from its beginnings it was a rather elite organization.
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1808
The Palermo rising takes place in Sicily against the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Rebellion against Bourbon rule in the Kingdom of Sicily
The Sicilian revolution of independence of 1848 was the first of the numerous Revolutions of 1848 which swept across Europe. It was a popular rebellion against the rule of Ferdinand II of the House of Bourbon, King of the Two Sicilies. Three revolutions against the Bourbon ruled Kingdom of the Two Sicilies had previously occurred on the island of Sicily starting from 1800: this final one, which commenced on 12 January 1848, resulted in an independent state which survived for 16 months. The Sicilian Constitution of 1848 which survived the 16 months was advanced for its time in liberal democratic terms, as was the proposal of a unified Italian confederation of states. It was in effect a curtain-raiser to the end of the Bourbon kingdom of the Two Sicilies, finally completed by Giuseppe Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand in 1860, the Siege of Gaeta of 1860–1861 and the proclamation of the unified Kingdom of Italy.
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1848
The Royal Aeronautical Society is formed in London.
British multi-disciplinary professional institution
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a British multi-disciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community. Founded in 1866, it is the oldest aeronautical society in the world. Members, Fellows, and Companions of the society can use the post-nominal letters MRAeS, FRAeS, or CRAeS, respectively.
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1866
Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first imperial coronation in that city in over 200 years.
Emperor of Ethiopia from 1871 to 1889
Yohannes IV was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1871 to his death in 1889 at the Battle of Gallabat, and king of Tigray from 1869 to 1871. During his reign he successfully defended Ethiopia against a large-scale Egyptian invasion.
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1872
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Born on January 12

20 people 1991 – 2012
Artem Kotenko
Artem Kotenko
Ukrainian singer
Artem Vitaliyovych Kotenko is a Ukrainian child singer. He represented Ukraine in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Hear Me Now", finishing 3rd overall with 203 points.
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2012
Yuika
Japanese singer-songwriter
Yuika is a Japanese singer-songwriter. Originally from Nara Prefecture, she begun uploading cover of songs from various artists like Mrs. Green Apple on TikTok. She became popular on TikTok after she released her debut…
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2005
Eva Lys
Eva Lys
German tennis player
Eva Lys is a Ukrainian-born German professional tennis player. Lys reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 39 on 5 January 2026. She has won 3 ITF singles titles.
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2002
Sam LaPorta
Sam LaPorta
American football player
Samuel Joseph LaPorta is an American professional football tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was named the Big Ten Tight End of…
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2001
Sven Botman
Sven Botman
Dutch footballer
Sven Adriaan Botman is a Dutch professional footballer who plays primarily as a centre-back for Premier League club Newcastle United. He has represented the Netherlands at youth levels under-15 through under-21.
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2000
Xavier Tillman
Xavier Tillman
American basketball player
Xavier Justis Tillman Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. Tillman was…
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1999
Tyler Roberts
Tyler Roberts
Welsh footballer
Tyler D'Whyte Roberts is a professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for EFL League One club Mansfield Town and the Wales national team.
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1999
Juan Foyth
Juan Foyth
Argentinian footballer
Juan Marcos Foyth is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as centre-back or right-back for La Liga club Villarreal and the Argentina national team.
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1998
Darius Slayton
Darius Slayton
American football player
Darius Slayton is an American professional football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was selected by the Giants in the…
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1997
Ella Henderson
Ella Henderson
English singer and songwriter
Gabriella Michelle Henderson, known professionally as Ella Henderson, is an English singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence after competing in the ninth series of The X Factor UK in 2012 finishing in sixth place.…
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1996
Allisha Gray
Allisha Gray
American basketball player
Allisha Gray is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Mist of Unrivaled. She won a gold medal in women's 3x3 basketball at the…
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1995
Mike McGlinchey
Mike McGlinchey
American football player
Michael Sean McGlinchey is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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1995
Emre Can
Emre Can
German footballer
Emre Can is a German professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, which he captains, and the Germany national team.
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1994
Jamel Artis
Jamel Artis
American basketball player
Jamel Gurley Artis is an American professional basketball player for Al Wahda. A native of Baltimore, he played college basketball for University of Pittsburgh.
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1993
D.O.
D.O.
South Korean singer
Doh Kyung-soo, known professionally as D.O. (디오), is a South Korean singer and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boy band Exo. He debuted as a soloist on July 26, 2021, with his first extended play (EP) Empathy.…
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1993
Zayn Malik
Zayn Malik
English singer
Zain Javadd Malik, known professionally as Zayn Malik or simply Zayn, is an English singer. He auditioned as a solo contestant for the British music competition television series The X Factor in 2010, where he ended up…
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1993
Simone Pecorini
Italian footballer
Simone Pecorini is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie D club Sant'Angelo.
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1993
Ishak Belfodil
Ishak Belfodil
Algerian footballer
Ishak Lazreg Cherif Belfodil is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a striker.
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1992
Samuele Longo
Samuele Longo
Italian footballer
Samuele Longo is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish Segunda Federación club Xerez Deportivo.
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1992
Pixie Lott
Pixie Lott
English singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress
Victoria Louise "Pixie" Lott is an English singer, songwriter, and actress. Her debut studio album, Turn It Up (2009), reached number six on the UK Albums Chart and sold over 1.5 million copies. It also spawned six…
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1991
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Died on January 12

20 people 2013 – 2026
Rick Garcia (activist)
Rick Garcia (activist)
American LGBTQ rights activist (born 1956)
Rick Garcia was an American LGBTQ activist known primarily for his work in Chicago and for LGBTQ acceptance within the Roman Catholic Church. As a co-founder of Equality Illinois, he advocated for equal treatment and…
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2026
Leslie Charleson
Leslie Charleson
American actress (born 1945)
Leslie Ann Charleson was an American actress, best known for playing the role of Monica Quartermaine on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital for 46 years.
Read More
2025
Claude Jarman Jr.
Claude Jarman Jr.
American actor and producer (born 1934)
Claude Miller Jarman Jr. was an American actor. He became a child star with his role as Jody Baxter in The Yearling (1946), for which he won an Academy Juvenile Award. Further roles in films like Intruder in the Dust…
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2025
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley
American singer-songwriter (born 1968)
Lisa Marie Presley was an American singer-songwriter. The daughter of singer and actor Elvis Presley and actress Priscilla Presley, she became the sole heir to her father's estate following the deaths of her grandfather…
Read More
2023
Sharad Yadav
Sharad Yadav
Indian politician, 30th Minister of Civil Aviation, 29th Labour Minister (born 1947)
Sharad Yadav was an Indian politician from the Rashtriya Janata Dal(RJD) party. He was elected to the Lok Sabha seven times and to the Rajya Sabha four times for Janata Dal (United). He was the first national president…
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2023
Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector
American singer (born 1943)
Veronica Yvette Greenfield, known professionally as Ronnie Spector, was an American singer. Regarded as the "bad girl of rock and roll", she achieved international fame for founding and fronting the girl group the…
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2022
Sir Roger Scruton
Sir Roger Scruton
English philosopher and writer (born 1944)
Sir Roger Vernon Scruton was an English philosopher, writer, and social critic who specialised in aesthetics and political philosophy, particularly in the furtherance of conservative views. The founding-editor of The…
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2020
Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson
American sports commentator and journalist (born 1928)
Keith Max Jackson was an American sports commentator, journalist, author, and radio personality, known for his career with ABC Sports (1966–2006). While he covered a variety of sports over his career, he is best known…
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2018
William Peter Blatty
William Peter Blatty
American writer and filmmaker (born 1928)
William Peter Blatty was an American writer, director and producer. He is best known for his 1971 novel The Exorcist and for his screenplay for the 1973 film adaptation. Blatty won an Academy Award for Best Adapted…
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2017
Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor
English football player and manager (born 1944)
Graham Taylor was an English football player, manager, pundit and chairman of Watford Football Club. He was the manager of the England national football team from 1990 to 1993, and also managed Lincoln City, Watford,…
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2017
Trevor Colbourn
Trevor Colbourn
American historian and academic (born 1927)
Harold Trevor Colbourn was an Australian professor and academic administrator, who served as the second president of the University of Central Florida, previously named Florida Technological University.
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2015
Robert Gover
Robert Gover
American journalist and author (born 1929)
Robert Gover was an American journalist who became a best-selling novelist at age 30. His first novel, One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding, a satire on American racism, remains a cult classic that helped break down…
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2015
Carl Long
Carl Long
American baseball player (born 1935)
Carl Russell Long was an American professional baseball outfielder who played in Negro league baseball and minor league baseball. Along with Frank Washington, Long broke the color barrier in the Carolina League city of…
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2015
Elena Obraztsova
Elena Obraztsova
Russian soprano and actress (born 1939)
Elena Vasilyevna Obraztsova was a Soviet and Russian mezzo-soprano. She was awarded the People's Artist of the USSR in 1976 and Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990.
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2015
Inge Vermeulen
Inge Vermeulen
Brazilian-Dutch field hockey player (born 1985)
Inge Vermeulen was a Brazil-born Dutch field hockey player.
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2015
Alexandra Bastedo
Alexandra Bastedo
English actress (born 1946)
Alexandra Lendon Bastedo was a British actress, best known for her role as the secret agent Sharron Macready in the 1968 British espionage/science fiction adventure series The Champions. Bastedo was a vegetarian and…
Read More
2014
Connie Binsfeld
Connie Binsfeld
American educator and politician, 58th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (born 1924)
Connie Berube Binsfeld was an American Republican politician from the U.S. State of Michigan. She served as the 60th lieutenant governor of Michigan. Starting as an advocate for the environment in planning for the…
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2014
George Dement
George Dement
American soldier, businessman, and politician (born 1922)
George Elyott Dement Jr., was an American innkeeper and restaurateur who served from 1989 to 2005 as the thirteenth mayor of Bossier City, Louisiana.
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2014
Precious Bryant
American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1942)
Precious Bryant was an American country blues, gospel, and folk singer and guitarist. Bryant is described as one of Georgia's great blueswomen. She played Piedmont fingerstyle guitar.
Read More
2013
Flor María Chalbaud
Flor María Chalbaud
First Lady of Venezuela (born 1921)
Flor de María Chalbaud Castro was First Lady of Venezuela between 2 December 1952 and 23 January 1958 and one of the founders of the Bolivarian Ladies Society.
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2013
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Related questions

More questions about January 12

What happened on January 12?

A featured event on this date is 2020: Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupts and kills 39 people. This page also lists 43 events from other years on the same day.

Why is January 12 remembered in history?

January 12 brings together events, births, and deaths across many eras, which makes it useful for seeing how one calendar date connects different historical turning points.

Who was born on January 12?

Notable birthdays on this date include Artem Kotenko, Yuika, Eva Lys.

See birthdays

Who died on January 12?

Notable deaths on this date include Rick Garcia (activist), Leslie Charleson, Claude Jarman Jr..

See deaths
Short answer

What happened on January 12 in history?

On January 12, one notable event in history was 2020: Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupts and kills 39 people..

This date currently highlights 43 recorded events on thisDay.info, spanning 475 – 2020.

DateJanuary 12
Featured year2020
Locationthe Philippines erupts and kills
Events listed43

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