1617
Exploration
Taken ashore ill at Gravesend
Pocahontas became ill and was taken ashore on March 12, 1617.
View detailsThis Day
12March
29 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1769
Science
Arrival in Mauritius to continue botanical collecting
Baret reached Mauritius (Île de France) on 12 March 1769, where she and Commerson remained to continue botanical research.
View details1776
Science
Birth of Lady Hester Stanhope
Born at Chevening, Kent, into the aristocratic Stanhope family, daughter of the 3rd Earl Stanhope and Lady Hester Pitt.
View details1862
Science
'Some keep the Sabbath going to Church' published as 'My Sabbath'
This poem on unconventional worship appeared in the Round Table (New York) on March 12, 1862, titled 'My Sabbath.'
View details1877
Law
Birth of Annette Grace Abbott in Prattville, California
Born Annette Grace Abbott on 12 March 1877 in Prattville, California, to Hiram Brown Abbott and Annette Frances Stubbs.
View details1884
Politics
Chartering of the first state-supported college for women in the U.S.
Mississippi chartered the first state-supported college for women.
View details1891
Arts
Last public performance in Frankfurt
Clara Schumann gives her final public concert in Frankfurt am Main, concluding a concert career of about six decades.
View details1908
Science
Birth of Rita Angus in Hastings, New Zealand
Rita Angus was born on 12 March 1908 in Hastings, New Zealand, the eldest of five children.
View details1912
Activism
Founding of Girl Scouts of the USA
Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts of the USA in Savannah, Georgia.
View details1912
Science
First official Girl Guides/Scouts meeting held at Louisa Porter Home
The first American Girl Guides/Scouts troop met at the Louisa Porter Home in Savannah, reciting the Promise and Law for the first time.
View details1912
Science
First American Girl Guides troop registered in Savannah
Juliette Gordon Low registered the first American Girl Guides troop of 18 Savannah girls, the seed of what became Girl Scouts of the USA.
View details1912
Science
Founding meeting of the first Girl Scout troop
At her Savannah home, Low gathered girls from Nina Pape's school for the founding meeting of what became the first Girl Scout troop.
View details1918
Arts
Birth of Elaine de Kooning
Elaine de Kooning was born on March 12, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York.
View details1923
1923
Sports
Born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Mae Young was born on March 12, 1923, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, beginning a life that would become one of the longest careers in professional wrestling history.
View details1926
Activism
Birth of Minerva Mirabal
Birth of Minerva Argentina Mirabal Reyes in Salcedo, Dominican Republic.
View details1985
Science
National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry
Glück won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry for The Triumph of Achilles at the March 12, 1985 ceremony.
View details1986
Literature
Wins Edgar Award for Best Novel
L.R. Wright's novel "The Suspect" won the 1986 Edgar Award, the first for a Canadian writer.
View details1993
Science
Sworn in as first woman U.S. Attorney General
Janet Reno was sworn in as the 78th U.S. Attorney General, the first woman to hold the position in American history.
View details1999
Aviation
First African American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship
Howard became the first African American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship on March 12, 1999.
View details2007
Arts
Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007.
View details2009
Arts
Induction into Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame
Harriet Powers was posthumously inducted into the GWA Hall of Fame in March 2009.
View details2011
Literature
Died in Ottawa, Ontario
Olive Dickason died on March 12, 2011, in Ottawa, Ontario, at the age of 91, leaving behind a transformative legacy in Canadian historiography.
View details2017
Politics
Departure from Cheong Wa Dae after impeachment
Left the Blue House after her impeachment was upheld.
View details2023
Arts
NBAF Fine Art + Fashion Living Legend Award
National Black Arts Festival honors her with its Fine Art + Fashion Living Legend Award following her historic second Oscar.
View details2023
Arts
First Black artist to win the Academy Award twice
Her second Oscar makes her the first Black artist in Academy history to win two competitive Oscars.
View details2023
Arts
First person to win Costume Design Oscars for both a film and its sequel
Becomes first person to win Best Costume Design Oscars for both a film and its sequel, "Black Panther" and "Wakanda Forever."
View details2023
Arts
First Black woman to win two Academy Awards
Wins second Best Costume Design Oscar for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," becoming the first Black woman to win two Academy Awards.
View details2026
Science
Retirement announcement from University of Wisconsin–Madison
UW–Madison announced Wu's retirement in 2026, marking the end of her academic career.
View details