Clara Barton, who passed away on April 12, 1912, was undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in American history. Known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” she devoted her life to helping others and made lasting contributions to society. In 1881, she founded the American Red Cross, an organization that continues to provide emergency aid and disaster relief worldwide.
During the Civil War, she worked as a nurse, offering care to injured soldiers directly on the battlefield. At her own expense, Barton established the Missing Soldiers Office, assisting families in finding loved ones who had gone missing during the war. Her remarkable contributions to humanitarian aid and civil rights remain a lasting legacy, inspiring efforts to create a more compassionate world.
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A portrait of Martin Van Buren, painted by G.P.A. Healy at his home, Lindenwald, in Kinderhook, New York, on April 12, 1858. At the time, Van Buren was 75 years old, and it was approximately 17 years after his presidency had concluded.
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Signer of The Declaration of Independence, Governor of Georgia (for one year) and Medical Doctor Lyman Hall was born on April 12, 1724 in Wallingford, Connecticut.
Image via NYPL Digital Collections, no known restrictions
On April 12, 1861, the American Civil War began as Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter.
During the bombardment this American flag fell but Union Lieutenant Norman J. Hall, risking his own life within the fort, raised the flag again.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Born April 12, 1916 in McMinnville, Oregon award-winning author Beverly Cleary was a librarian who began writing in response to her young patrons asking for books they could relate to. Her memorable characters include Ramona Quimby and her sister Beezus, Henry Huggins, his dog Ribsy, and Ralph S. Mouse.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright, public domain in the US.
Born April 12, 1880 Adrian “Addie” Joss pitched the second perfect game in the modern baseball era for the Cleveland Naps against the Chicago White Sox in October, 1908. Addie was also a popular sports columnist in off-seasons. Fans and readers were saddened by his sudden death from meningitis at age 31.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US
One of the earliest American aces of WWII, Robert Lee Scott Jr. was born on April 12, 1908 in Waynesboro, Georgia.
Credited with 13 aerial victories against Japanese aircraft, Robert published a book titled “God is My Co-Pilot” before the war ended.
Image: Colonel Robert L. Scott Jr. in his Curtiss P-40 Warhawk in 1943, public domain
Launch of Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-1), the first crewed shuttle mission to space on April 12, 1981.
During the mission, the shuttle orbited the earth thirty-seven times.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
The cast of the Partridge Family in 1970. David Cassidy is on the far right.
20 years earlier David Cassidy was born on April 12, 1950 in Manhattan, New York.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On April 12, 1954, Bill Haley & The Comets recorded “Rock Around the Clock” at the Pythian Temple Studios in New York City.
Today the Pythian is a condominium complex.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
David Letterman in 1978 when he appeared on Battle of The Network Stars (CBS Network Team)
Late night TV talk show host David Letterman was born on April 12, 1947 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Image via Alamy
A photograph taken on April 12, 1922 outside of Clara Barton’s birthplace in Oxford, Massachusetts
Image via LOC, no known restrictions
Six days before his 40th birthday, Michael Phelan won (what is considered to be) the first U.S. national billiards tournament on April 12, 1859. His prize was $15,000.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
“First Auction Sale of Lots at Imperial April 12, 1904.” Inside the tent with the California Development Co. and hopeful landowners
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Photo of FDR at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia taken just a few days before his death on April 12, 1945.
Image from FDR Presidential Library and Museum, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
An advertisement for Arrow collars & shirts that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post on April 12, 1913.
via NYPL Digital Collections, no known restrictions
On April 12, 1861, as Confederate shells rained down on Fort Sumter, Sergeant Peter Hart (Mexican-American War veteran and New York City Police Officer) climbed the shattered flagstaff and nailed the Union colors back into place—an act of defiance that marked the opening shots of the Civil War. The flag remained flying until the garrison’s surrender, making Hart a Northern hero and turning the banner into a powerful symbol of the Union cause.
Four years later, Hart stood beside Major Anderson as the flag was raised again over the fort on April 14, 1865, just hours before President Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theatre.
