On this day: 12 February

Selected events and births on 12 February, from Wikipedia’s “On this day”.

Events

• 1502 – Queen Isabella I issued an edict outlawing Islam in the Crown of Castile, forcing virtually all her Muslim subjects to convert to Christianity. Read more: Isabella I of Castile Crown of Castile Forced conversions of Muslims in Spain
• 1855 – The precursor of Michigan State University in East Lansing was founded as the United States' first agricultural college. Read more: Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan List of agricultural universities and colleges
• 1917 – Mexican football club Toluca FC was founded by a group of local businessmen and sports enthusiasts. Read more: Toluca FC
• 1924 – George Gershwin's composition Rhapsody in Blue premiered at Aeolian Hall in New York. Read more: George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue Aeolian Building (42nd Street)
• 1988 – While claiming the right of innocent passage through Soviet territorial waters in the Black Sea, the American cruiser USS Yorktown and destroyer USS Caron were bumped by Soviet warships. Read more: Innocent passage Territorial waters Black Sea
• 1994 – Edvard Munch's painting The Scream was stolen from the National Gallery of Norway. Read more: Edvard Munch The Scream National Gallery (Norway)
• 2001 – The NASA space probe NEAR Shoemaker touched down on Eros, becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid. Read more: NASA NEAR Shoemaker 433 Eros
• 2016 – In the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba. Read more: Catholic Church Russian Orthodox Church Pope Francis
• 2019 – After being informed that its recently purchased coffin of Nedjemankh had been looted, the Metropolitan Museum of Art shuttered its ongoing exhibition Nedjemankh and His Gilded Coffin two months early and later returned the artifact to Egypt. Read more: Coffin of Nedjemankh Metropolitan Museum of Art

Born on this day

• 1942 – Ehud Barak, Israeli general and politician, 10th Prime Minister of Israel Read more: Ehud Barak Prime Minister of Israel
• 1946 – Jean Eyeghé Ndong, Gabonese politician, Prime Minister of Gabon Read more: Jean Eyeghé Ndong Prime Minister of Gabon
• 1948 – Nicholas Soames, English politician, Minister of State for the Armed Forces Read more: Nicholas Soames Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces
• 1956 – Ad Melkert, Dutch lawyer and politician, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Read more: Ad Melkert Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
• 1961 – Michel Martelly, Haitian singer and politician, 56th President of Haiti Read more: Michel Martelly President of Haiti
• 1965 – Brett Kavanaugh, American lawyer and jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Read more: Brett Kavanaugh Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
• 1968 – Nathan Rees, Australian politician, 41st Premier of New South Wales Read more: Nathan Rees Premier of New South Wales
• 1993 – Bud Dupree, American football player Read more: Bud Dupree
• 1994 – Kemal Bilmez, Belgian politician Read more: Kemal Bilmez
• 1994 – Arman Hall, American sprinter Read more: Arman Hall
• 2000 – Kim Ji-min, South Korean actress Read more: Kim Ji-min (actress)
• 2001 – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Georgian footballer Read more: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Text from Wikipedia: Selected anniversaries / February 12 and the linked articles, via the Wikimedia “On this day” feed, under CC BY-SA 4.0. We leave out entries about wars, violence and disasters to keep this page family-friendly.