Grandmaster (chess)
Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju became the undisputed World Chess Champion in a tournament held in Singapore, making him the 18th and the youngest champion in chess history.
What happened on December 12
30 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 627 to 2024.
Standout on December 12
2024
Grandmaster (chess)
Indian Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju became the undisputed World Chess Champion in a tournament held in Singapore, making him the 18th and the youngest champion in chess history.
About December 12
December 12 is the 346th day of the year. These facts are computed from the calendar, not copied from anywhere.
- Day of the year
- Day 346 of 365 (347 in leap years)19 days left in the year (19 in leap years)
- Falls on
- Saturday in 2026, Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029, Thursday in 2030
- Week
- ISO week 50 of 2026 · Q4
- Zodiac sign
- ♐ Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
- Season
- Autumn in the north · Spring in the south
- December birthstone
- Turquoise / Tanzanite / Zircongood fortune, wisdom and success
- December birth flower
- Narcissus / Holly / Poinsettiarespect, hope and good wishes
- Next occurrence
- In 46 days
- Roman numerals
- XII.XIIday.month — see the Roman numeral date tool
Anniversaries in 2026
- 90thRepublic of China (1912–1949)1936
- 80thUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 131946
- 70thUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 1211956
- 40thDaddy Birori1986
- 40thNina Kolarič1986
- 40thPërparim Hetemaj1986
- 40thT. J. Ward1986
- 30thLucas Hedges1996
December 12 through the years
- 10 years ago2016
- Shirley Hazzard
- 25 years ago2001
- Prime Minister of Vietnam · Michael Olise
- 50 years ago1976
- Nothing recorded
- 100 years ago1926
- Nothing recorded
- 200 years ago1826
- Nothing recorded
Born on December 12 — ages this year
- 2001Michael Oliseturns 25
- 1997Ed Oliver (American football)turns 29
- 1996Lucas Hedgesturns 30
- 1994Otto Warmbierturns 32
- 1993Zeli Ismailturns 33
- 1991Joseph Leiluaturns 35
Historical events 30
A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
At the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to become World Drivers' Champion.
Formula One
Dutch Formula One racing driver Max Verstappen wins the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton to become the first Formula One World Champion to come from the Netherlands.
Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement relating to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is adopted.
North Korea
North Korea successfully launches its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2.
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2
North Korea made its first successful satellite launch, as Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 reached orbit.
Prime Minister of Vietnam
Prime Minister of Vietnam Phan Văn Khải announces the decision on upgrading the Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng nature reserve to a national park, providing information on projects for the conservation and development of the park and revised maps.
Supreme Court of the United States
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore that the recount of ballots cast in Florida for the presidential election be stopped, effectively making George W. Bush (pictured) the winner.
1999 Luzon earthquake
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits the Philippines's main island of Luzon, killing six people, injuring 40, and causing power outages that affected the capital Manila.
Clapham Junction rail crash
Three trains collided near Clapham Junction railway station in London, killing 35 people and injuring 484 others.
Arrow Air Flight 1285R
Arrow Air Flight 1285R, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8, crashes after takeoff in Gander, Newfoundland, killing all 256 people on board, including 236 members of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division.
1979 South Korean coup d'état
Coup d'état of December Twelfth occurs in South Korea.
1979 Tumaco earthquake
A magnitude-8.2 earthquake struck just off the shore of Tumaco, Colombia, causing at least 300 deaths, mostly by the resulting tsunami.
Greek junta
The Greek junta announced its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after the junta was found guilty of torture and other human-rights violations by the European Commission of Human Rights.
Piazza Fontana bombing
The Piazza Fontana bombing; a bomb explodes at the headquarters of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura (the National Agricultural Bank) in Piazza Fontana in Milan, Italy, killing 17 people and wounding 88. The same afternoon, three more bombs are detonated in Rome and Milan, and another is found unexploded.
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta became the first president of the Republic of Kenya.
Kenya
Kenya declares independence from Great Britain.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 121
United Nations Security Council Resolution 121 relating to acceptance of Japan to the United Nations is adopted.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 13
United Nations Security Council Resolution 13 relating to acceptance of Siam (now Thailand) to the United Nations is adopted.
People's Republic of Korea
The People's Republic of Korea is outlawed in the South, by order of the United States Army Military Government in Korea.
World War II
World War II: German troops began Operation Winter Storm, an attempt to relieve encircled Axis forces during the Battle of Stalingrad.
The Holocaust
The Holocaust: At a Nazi Party meeting in the Reich Chancellery, Adolf Hitler declared the imminent destruction of the Jewish people.
World War II
World War II: Fifty-four Japanese A6M Zero fighters raid Batangas Field, Philippines. Jesús Villamor and four Filipino fighter pilots fend them off; César Basa is killed.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duchess (pictured) collided with HMS Barham, the battleship she was escorting, and Duchess sank with heavy loss of life.
Winter War
Winter War: The Battle of Tolvajärvi, also known as the first major Finnish victory in the Winter War, begins.
HMS Duchess (H64)
HMS Duchess sinks after a collision with HMS Barham off the coast of Scotland with the loss of 124 men.
Republic of China (1912–1949)
Republic of China leader Chiang Kai-shek was kidnapped by Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, a former warlord of Manchuria.
Oaks explosion
England's worst mining disaster occurred when a series of explosions (depicted) caused by flammable gases ripped through the Oaks Colliery, killing 361 people.
Mary of Enghien
Unable to defend her possessions, Maria of Enghien sold the lordship of Argos and Nauplia to the Republic of Venice.
Battle of Nineveh (627)
At the Battle of Nineveh, the Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeated the forces of Sasanian emperor Khosrow II, commanded by Rhahzadh, near present-day Mosul, Iraq.
Births 20
A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
Deaths 20
A notable person who died on this day.
Vicente Fernández
Vicente Fernández, Mexican actor, ranchera singer, and film producer (born 1940)
Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi
Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, Tongan politician and military officer, Deputy Prime Minister (born 1955)
Bernie Fowler
Bernie Fowler, American politician and environmental advocate (born 1924)
Ed Lee
Ed Lee, American politician and attorney, 43rd Mayor of San Francisco (born 1952)
Shirley Hazzard
Shirley Hazzard, Australian-American novelist, short story writer, and essayist (born 1931)
Evelyn S. Lieberman
Evelyn S. Lieberman, American politician, White House Deputy Chief of Staff (born 1944)
Norman Bridwell
Norman Bridwell, American author and illustrator, created Clifford the Big Red Dog (born 1928)
Ivor Grattan-Guinness
Ivor Grattan-Guinness, English mathematician, historian, and academic (born 1941)
Abdul Quader Mollah
Abdul Quader Molla, Bangladeshi journalist and politician (born 1948)
Tom Laughlin
Tom Laughlin, American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator, and activist (born 1931)
Joe Allbritton
Joe Allbritton, American banker, publisher, and philanthropist, founded the Allbritton Communications Company (born 1924)
Tom Walkinshaw
Tom Walkinshaw, Scottish race car driver, founded Tom Walkinshaw Racing (born 1946)
Holidays & observances 8
A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet
Christian feast day: Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet
Jane Frances de Chantal
Christian feast day: Jane Frances de Chantal
Finnian of Clonard
Christian feast day: Finnian of Clonard
Peter the Aleut
Christian feast day: Peter the Aleut
Thomas Holland (Jesuit)
Christian feast day: Thomas Holland
Vicelinus
Christian feast day: Vicelinus
Ida of Nivelles
Christian feast day: Ida of Nivelles
Corentin of Quimper
Christian feast day: Corentin of Quimper
Spread across the centuries
- 7th century1
- 14th century1
- 19th century1
- 20th century39
- 21st century28
Earliest: Battle of Nineveh (627) (627). Most recent: Grandmaster (chess) (2024).
What the categories mean, and how the standout is chosen
- Historical events
- A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Births
- A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
- Deaths
- A notable person who died on this day.
- Milestones
- A first, a founding or a turning point our editors flagged as a landmark moment.
- Holidays & observances
- A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
- Standout / notable
- Editor-written entries come first, then entries covered by the most Wikipedia language editions. For the standout tile we prefer an entry that has a picture.
Nearby and related
Questions about December 12
What day of the year is December 12?
December 12 is the 346th day of the year, with 19 days left after it.
What star sign is December 12?
December 12 falls under Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21), a fire sign ruled by Jupiter. The birthstone for the month is Turquoise or Tanzanite or Zircon.
How many things happened on December 12?
We record 78 entries for December 12: 30 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 627 to 2024.
Who was born on December 12?
Michael Olise (2001) is among the notable births on December 12. The births section lists the rest.
How often is the December 12 page updated?
The day is filled the first time anyone opens it and then re-checked for new entries about every 90 days. Computed facts such as the weekday and the anniversaries update every year.
Get a daily entry like December 12
One short email a day from this calendar. Kept for this site only.
Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.