On This Day August 12

1970
U.S. Postal Service becomes independent of the government. Also, the Postal Rate Commission is established to make recommendations for postal rates, fees, and services.

1964
First black secret service agent to guard the life of the president, Abraham Bolden, is sentenced to prison for soliciting a $50,000 bribe from a counterfeiter.

1960
The Beatles: Drummer Tommy Moore quits the group because their bookings interfered with his job as forklift driver. Drums would later be taken over by Ringo Starr.

1960
First communications satellite: NASA launches the 26½-inch sphere-shaped Echo I.

1953
First woman to sail solo across the Atlantic: Ann Davidson arrives in Miami, Florida aboard her 23-foot sailboat. She had started from Plymouth, England in May of 1952.

1918
First regular U.S. airmail service: The Post Office establishes a route between New York City and Washington, D.C.

1912
First feature-length film shown in the U.S.: Queen Elizabeth, made in France and starring Sarah Bernhardt, is released in Chicago.

1898
Spanish-American War: The war ends when Spain signs the U.S. peace protocol. The U.S. acquired the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Spain gave up all claims to Cuba.

1896
Klondike gold discovery: The second great gold rush in U.S. history is started.

1883
Last quagga: The last of this species of zebra (distinguished by striping that is confined to the head) dies in Amsterdam Zoo.

1877
First voice recording: Thomas Edison records his recitation of Mary Had a Little Lamb.

1852
Sewing Machine: Isaac M. Singer receives a patent for his continuous-stitch sewing machine.

1676
King Philip's War: The first and bloodiest war between the New England settlers and the Indians ends when Wampanoag Indian leader King Philip is shot and killed by a member of his own tribe.

1971
Pete Sampras, American tennis player, Wimbledon champ (1993), and two-time U.S. Open winner (1990, 93). His 1990 victory made him the youngest ever U.S. Open men's champ.

1949
Mark Knopfler, British guitarist, songwriter, with Dire Straits. Music: Sultans of Swing (1978) and Money For Nothing (1985, #1).

1939
George Hamilton, American actor. Film: Love at First Bite (1979, Dracula).

1930
Porter Wagoner, American country singer. Music: Misery Loves Company (1962, #1).

1929 d. 2006
Buck Owens (Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr.), American country-western singer. He helped create the "Bakersfield Sound" and was a regular on Hee Haw (Co-host). He had 15 #1 hits in a row.

1926
John Derek (Derek Harris), American actor. Film: Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981, in which he directed his wife Bo) and Bolero (1984).

1911 d. 1993
Cantinflas (Mario Moreno), Mexican clown, superstar of Spanish-speaking films, called the "Charlie Chaplin of Mexico." Charlie Chaplin described him as "the world's greatest comedian." Film: Around the World in 80 Days (1956, as Passepartout).

1910
Jane Wyatt, American Emmy-winning actress. TV: Father Knows Best (1954-60, the mother) and Star Trek (1967, Spock's mother).

1907 d. 1988
Joe Besser, American comedian, member of the 3-Stooges. He replaced Shemp after his death in 1955.

1889 d. 1981
Zerna Addis Sharp, American author. She created the Dick and Jane primary readers. "Run Spot run. See Spot run."

1881 d. 1959
Cecil Blount De Mille, American Oscar-winning film director, called the founder of Hollywood. Film: The Ten Commandments (1923 and 1956), The King of Kings (1927), Cleopatra (1934), and Samson and Delilah (1949).

1859 d. 1929
Katharine Lee Bates, American poet. She wrote the words to the national hymn America the Beautiful (1911).

1762 d. 1830
George IV, King of Great Britain and Ireland (1820-30). He built Buckingham Palace (1820s).

1712 d. 1786
Jonas Hanway, English traveller. He is credited with popularizing the umbrella in London after bringing one back from Portugal.

1503 d. 1559
Christian III, King of Denmark and Norway (1534-59). He established the state Lutheran Church in Denmark (1536).

1992 b. 1912
John Cage, American avant-garde composer, noted for his use of unusual items for music. He created what is considered the first electronic music by varying the frequencies of tone generators.

1982 b. 1905
Henry Fonda, American Oscar-winning actor. Film: My Darling Clementine (1946), Mr. Roberts (1955), and On Golden Pond (1981, Oscar).

1964 b. 1908
Ian Fleming, British author, creator of James Bond 007. He also wrote Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.

1914 b. 1840
John Philip Holland, Irish-born American inventor. He designed and built the first modern-style submarine (1881) and the first practical submarine (1898).

1861 b. 1793
Eliphalet Remington, American gun manufacturer, founder of Remington gunworks.

1848 b. 1781
George Stephenson, English engineer, developer of the railroad steam locomotive.

1813 b. 1747
Samuel Osgood, American politician, member of the Continental Congress (1781-84), first commissioner of the U.S. treasury (1785-89), and U.S. postmaster general (1789-91).

30 B.C. b. 69 B.C.
Cleopatra (Cleopatra VII Philopator), Egyptian Queen, the last Hellenistic leader of Egypt. Her parents were brother and sister, as were their parents, as were their parents. She ruled with her two brother-husbands, both of whom she killed. Legend states she committed suicide by placing an asp to her breast.

August 12

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