In History, Today on February 12

Vasco da Gama sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on his second voyage to India, further establishing the sea route around the Cape of Good Hope.

Englishman James Oglethorpe founds the colony of Georgia, establishing the city of Savannah as its first settlement.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky.

Chile formally declares its independence from Spain, solidifying its status as a sovereign nation.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded in the United States, aiming to fight for civil rights and end racial discrimination.

The last Emperor of China, Puyi, abdicates the throne, marking the end of the Qing Dynasty and the imperial era in China.

Calvin Coolidge becomes the first President of the United States to deliver a radio broadcast from the White House.

Christian Dior unveils his first collection in Paris, which includes the 'New Look' that revolutionizes women's fashion.

Edvard Munch's iconic painting 'The Scream' is stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway, by a group of thieves.

The trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević began at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. He faced charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide related to the wars in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo.

The city of San Francisco began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, marking a significant moment in the movement for marriage equality in the United States.

General Motors announced a record $38.7 billion loss for 2007, the largest annual loss ever for an automotive company at that time. This announcement highlighted the financial struggles of the U.S. auto industry leading up to the global financial crisis.

The 2010 Winter Olympics officially opened in Vancouver, Canada. The event was marked by the tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili during a training run on the same day.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church met in Havana, Cuba, marking the first meeting between the leaders of the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches since the Great Schism of 1054.

NASA officially declared the Mars rover Opportunity's mission complete after the rover failed to respond following a dust storm in June 2018. Opportunity had been operational on Mars since 2004, far exceeding its planned 90-day mission.