In History, Today on January 12

Gustav I of Sweden is crowned King of Sweden, marking the end of the Kalmar Union and the beginning of the modern Swedish state.

The first public Colonial American museum opens in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Royal Aeronautical Society is formed in London, the oldest aeronautical society in the world.

Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, marking a significant period in Ethiopian history.

Itō Hirobumi begins his third term as Prime Minister of Japan.

The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is established as a result of the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement, marking the beginning of joint British and Egyptian rule over Sudan.

A long-distance radio message is sent from the Eiffel Tower for the first time.

The United States House of Representatives rejects a proposal to give women the right to vote.

Hattie Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate.

Lyndon B. Johnson states that the United States should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there is ended.

Dr. James Bedford becomes the first person to be cryonically preserved with intent of future resuscitation.

The United States Congress authorizes the use of military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait, leading to the Gulf War.

A devastating earthquake struck Haiti, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.0, had its epicenter near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 kilometers west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. It resulted in significant humanitarian crises, with estimates of over 200,000 deaths and millions displaced.

The Charlie Hebdo shooting suspects, brothers Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, were killed by police in Dammartin-en-Goële, France, after a two-day manhunt. This event followed the attack on the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris on January 7, 2015, which resulted in the deaths of 12 people.

The United States lifted economic sanctions on Iran following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. This marked a significant moment in international diplomacy aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

The Taal Volcano in the Philippines began erupting, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people from the surrounding areas. The eruption spewed ash and steam, affecting air travel and causing significant disruptions. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level, warning of a possible explosive eruption.