April 12 - The Day in History

April 12 : General Interest 1861: The Civil War begins The bloodiest four years in American history begin when Confederate shore batteries under General P.G.T. Beauregard open fire on Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Bay... read more American Revolution 1770 : British repeal hated Townshend Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-repeal-hated-townshend-act Automotive 1888 : Founder of classic British sports car company is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/founder-of-classic-british-sports-car-company-is-born Civil War 1861 : Fort Sumter fired upon http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fort-sumter-fired-upon Cold War 1945 : President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-franklin-d-roosevelt-dies Crime 1633 : Galileo is convicted of heresy http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/galileo-is-convicted-of-heresy Disaster 1908 : Fire threatens Massachusetts oil refineries http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fire-threatens-massachusetts-oil-refineries General Interest 1864 : The Fort Pillow Massacre http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-fort-pillow-massacre 1945 : President Roosevelt dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-roosevelt-dies 1961 : First man in space http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-man-in-space 1981 : First launching of the space shuttle http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-launching-of-the-space-shuttle Hollywood 1914 : First movie "palace" opens http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-movie-palace-opens Literary 1949 : Legal thriller writer Scott Turow is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/legal-thriller-writer-scott-turow-is-born Music 1954 : Bill Haley and the Comets record "Rock Around The Clock" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bill-haley-and-the-comets-record-quotrock-around-the-clockquot Old West 1858 : First gentile governor arrives in Utah http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-gentile-governor-arrives-in-utah Presidential 1945 : FDR dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-dies Sports 1981 : Lawrence Taylor drafted by NY Giants http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lawrence-taylor-drafted-by-ny-giants Vietnam War 1961 : Rostow recommends escalation of effort http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rostow-recommends-escalation-of-effort 1975 : U.S. Embassy in Cambodia evacuated http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-embassy-in-cambodia-evacuated World War I 1917 : Canadians capture Vimy Ridge http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/canadians-capture-vimy-ridge World War II 1945 : Roosevelt dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roosevelt-dies