On This Day for April 12 - Launch of first space shuttle, Edward de Vere, 17th earl of Oxford is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. April 12 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Edward de Vere, 17th earl of Oxford READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1981 Launch of first space shuttle READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2014: A forest fire swept into the port city of Valparaíso , Chile, destroying several thousand homes and claiming the lives of at least 16 people before it was extinguished several days later. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about Chile.] 1989: American boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, a six-time world champion who was considered by many to have been the best fighter in history, died in California. [Test your knowledge of boxing, basketball, and more .] 1983: Harold Washington, the first African American mayor of Chicago, was elected. [Take our quiz about Chicago history.] 1981: American Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949, died in Las Vegas, Nevada. 1961: Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in outer space. [Test your knowledge of famous astronauts and cosmonauts.] 1947: American comedian David Letterman, best known as the host of his long-running late-night talk show, was born. SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1947 Tom Clancy American author 1947 David Letterman American talk-show host 1942 Jacob Zuma president of South Africa 1777 Henry Clay American statesman 1940 Herbie Hancock American musician 1941 Bobby Moore British athlete SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2020 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help