Following is a list of events that occurred on February 12 throughout history:
- 881 – Coronation of Charles the Fat: On February 12, 881, Charles the Fat, a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope John VIII. His reign marked the last time the Carolingian Empire was united under a single ruler.
- 1554 – Execution of Lady Jane Grey: After a brief nine-day reign as Queen of England, Lady Jane Grey was executed for high treason.
- 1809 – Birth of Abraham Lincoln: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky.
- 1809 – Birth of Charles Darwin: Charles Darwin, the English naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection, was born in Shrewsbury, England.
- 1818 – Chile Declares Independence: Chile formally declared its independence from Spain, marking the beginning of its journey as a sovereign nation.
- 1909 – Founding of the NAACP: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was established in New York City to promote civil rights and combat racial discrimination.
- 1912 – Abdication of the Last Chinese Emperor: Emperor Puyi, the last emperor of China, abdicated the throne, bringing an end to over two millennia of imperial rule and leading to the establishment of the Republic of China.
- 1947 – Christian Dior’s “New Look” Debut: French fashion designer Christian Dior introduced his first collection, featuring the “New Look” that revolutionized women’s fashion with its emphasis on femininity and elegance.
- 2002 – Trial of Slobodan Milošević Begins: Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević went on trial at The Hague, facing charges of genocide and war crimes related to conflicts in the Balkans during the 1990s.
- 2019 – Conviction of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán: Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán was found guilty in a U.S. federal court on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering, leading to a life sentence in prison.
