May 2024 solar storms
Middle/end of the May 2024 solar storms, the most powerful set of geomagnetic storms since the 2003 Halloween solar storms.
What happened on May 12
36 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 1863 to 2026.
Standout on May 12
2017
WannaCry ransomware attack
The WannaCry ransomware attack affected more than 400,000 computers worldwide, including systems used by the National Health Service and Telefónica.
About May 12
May 12 is the 132nd day of the year. These facts are computed from the calendar, not copied from anywhere.
- Day of the year
- Day 132 of 365 (133 in leap years)233 days left in the year (233 in leap years)
- Falls on
- Tuesday in 2026, Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029, Sunday in 2030
- Week
- ISO week 20 of 2026 · Q2
- Zodiac sign
- ♉ Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
- Season
- Spring in the north · Autumn in the south
- May birthstone
- Emeraldrebirth, love and wisdom
- May birth flower
- Lily of the valley / Hawthornsweetness, humility and hope
- Next occurrence
- In 197 days
- Roman numerals
- XII.Vday.month — see the Roman numeral date tool
Anniversaries in 2026
- 100thNorge (airship)1926
- 40thEmily VanCamp1986
- 30thFabrice Olinga1996
- 30thKostas Tsimikas1996
- 25thIssa Kaboré2001
- 20th2006 São Paulo violence outbreak2006
- 20thIranian Azerbaijanis2006
- 20thVasilije Adžić2006
May 12 through the years
- 10 years ago2016
- Mike Agostini
- 25 years ago2001
- Issa Kaboré
- 50 years ago1976
- Nothing recorded
- 100 years ago1926
- Norge (airship)
- 200 years ago1826
- Nothing recorded
Born on May 12 — ages this year
- 2006Vasilije Adžićturns 20
- 2005Zach Bensonturns 21
- 2001Issa Kaboréturns 25
- 1999Hiroki Itō (footballer, born 1999)turns 27
- 1998Mo Bambaturns 28
- 1997Frenkie de Jongturns 29
Historical events 36
A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Event Horizon Telescope
The Event Horizon Telescope released the first image of Sagittarius A*.
2018 Paris knife attack
Paris knife attack: A man is fatally shot by police in Paris after killing one and injuring several others.
WannaCry ransomware attack
The WannaCry ransomware attack affected more than 400,000 computers worldwide, including systems used by the National Health Service and Telefónica.
2015 Philadelphia train derailment
A train derailment killed eight people and injured more than 200 others in Philadelphia.
May 2015 Nepal earthquake
An earthquake in Nepal killed 218 people and injured more than 3,500 others.
Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771
Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 crashes on final approach to Tripoli International Airport in Tripoli, Libya, killing 103 out of the 104 people on board.
Tripoli International Airport
On arrival at Tripoli International Airport, Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 crashed into the ground at a speed of 262 kn (485 km/h; 302 mph) and exploded, killing all but one of the 304 people on board.
Postville, Iowa
In Postville, Iowa, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the largest-ever raid of a workplace and arrested nearly 400 immigrants for identity theft and document fraud.
2008 Sichuan earthquake
An earthquake (measuring around 8.0 magnitude) occurs in Sichuan, China, killing over 69,000 people.
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts the largest-ever raid of a workplace in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrants for identity theft and document fraud.
Iranian Azerbaijanis
Iranian Azeris interpret a cartoon published in an Iranian magazine as insulting, resulting in massive riots throughout the country.
2006 São Paulo violence outbreak
Mass unrest by the Primeiro Comando da Capital begins in São Paulo (Brazil), leaving at least 150 dead.
Riyadh compound bombings
The Riyadh compound bombings in Saudi Arabia, carried out by al-Qaeda, kill 39 people.
Jimmy Carter
Former US President Jimmy Carter arrives in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro, becoming the first President of the United States, in or out of office, to visit the island since the Cuban Revolution.
Trisakti shootings
Four students were shot and killed by Indonesian soldiers at Trisakti University in Jakarta, which led to widespread riots and the resignation of President Suharto nine days later.
San Bernardino train disaster
The San Bernardino train disaster kills four people, only to be followed a week later by an underground gasoline pipeline explosion, which kills two more people.
Coppergate Helmet
The Coppergate Helmet (pictured), the best preserved of the six known Anglo-Saxon helmets, was discovered.
Juan María Fernández y Krohn
Juan María Fernández y Krohn attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II with a bayonet in Fátima, Portugal.
Mary, mother of Jesus
During a procession outside the shrine of the Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, security guards overpower Juan María Fernández y Krohn before he can attack Pope John Paul II with a bayonet.
Zaire
In Zaire, rebels occupy the city of Kolwezi, the mining center of the province of Shaba (now known as Katanga); the local government asks the US, France and Belgium to restore order.
Mayaguez incident
The Cambodian navy seized the American container ship SS Mayaguez in what they claimed to be Cambodian territorial waters.
Indochina wars
Indochina Wars: Democratic Kampuchea naval forces capture the SS Mayaguez.
Vietnam War
Vietnam War: The 1st Australian Task Force began the defence of Fire Support Base Coral in the largest unit-level action of the war for the Australian Army.
Jimi Hendrix
The Jimi Hendrix Experience released the critically acclaimed and widely influential debut album Are You Experienced.
Spacecraft
The Soviet spacecraft Luna 5 crashes on the Moon.
Cold War
Cold War: The Soviet Union lifts its blockade of Berlin.
High Explosive Research
The United Kingdom publicly announced that it was independently developing nuclear weapons, after the US Atomic Energy Act of 1946 ended cooperation on the matter.
World War II
World War II: Second Battle of Kharkov: In eastern Ukraine, Red Army forces under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko launch a major offensive from the Izium bridgehead, only to be encircled and destroyed by the troops of Army Group South two weeks later.
Konrad Zuse
German engineer Konrad Zuse presented the Z3, the first working programmable and fully automatic computer, to an audience of scientists in Berlin.
United States Army Air Corps
During an exercise to demonstrate air power, United States Army Air Corps bomber aircraft intercepted the Italian ocean liner SS Rex (pictured) 620 nautical miles (1,100 km) off the US Atlantic coast.
Röhm scandal
Nazi deputies assaulted journalist Helmuth Klotz in the German parliament building after he publicized the homosexuality of a senior Nazi politician.
Norge (airship)
The crew of the airship Norge (pictured), led by Roald Amundsen, became the first people to make a verified trip to the North Pole.
North Borneo
North Borneo was established as a British protectorate.
French conquest of Tunisia
Under threat of invasion, Muhammad III as-Sadiq, Bey of Tunis, signed the Treaty of Bardo to make Tunisia a French protectorate.
American Civil War
American Civil War: The Confederates were routed in the Battle of Raymond, a small battle that had an inordinately large impact on the Vicksburg campaign.
Births 20
A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
Eleftheria Eleftheriou
Eleftheria Eleftheriou, Greek Cypriot singer, musician, and actress
Deaths 20
A notable person who died on this day.
Aimee Stephens
Aimee Stephens, American funeral director and U.S. Supreme Court litigant (born 1960)
Mauno Koivisto
Mauno Koivisto, Finnish banker and politician, ninth President of Finland (born 1923)
Gerd Langguth
Gerd Langguth, German political scientist, author, and academic (born 1946)
Antonio Vega (singer)
Antonio Vega, Spanish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1957)
Holidays & observances 8
A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
Modoald
Christian feast day: Modoald
Nereus and Achilleus
Christian feast day: Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, and Pancras
Epiphanius of Salamis
Christian feast day: Epiphanius of Salamis
Joanna, Princess of Portugal
Christian feast day: Blessed Joan of Portugal
Dominic de la Calzada
Christian feast day: Dominic de la Calzada
Crispoldus
Christian feast day: Crispoldus
Beatification
Christian feast day: Blessed Imelda Lambertini
Gregory Dix
Christian feast day: Gregory Dix (Church of England)
Spread across the centuries
- 19th century3
- 20th century35
- 21st century38
Earliest: American Civil War (1863). Most recent: Jason Collins (2026).
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 May 12
What day of the year is May 12?
May 12 is the 132nd day of the year, with 233 days left after it.
What star sign is May 12?
May 12 falls under Taurus (April 20 – May 20), a earth sign ruled by Venus. The birthstone for the month is Emerald.
How many things happened on May 12?
We record 84 entries for May 12: 36 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 1863 to 2026.
Who was born on May 12?
Vasilije Adžić (2006) is among the notable births on May 12. The births section lists the rest.
How often is the May 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 May 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.