06/12/2007
1492 – Columbus discovered Hispaniola (now Haiti) and the Dominican Republic.
1917 – Finland proclaimed independence from Russia.
1957 – America’s first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed when the satellite blew up on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, FL.
1989 – The worst mass shooting in Canadian history occurred when a man gunned down 14 women at the University of Montreal’s school of engineering. The man then killed himself.
1992 – In India, thousands of Hindu extremists destroyed a mosque. The following two months of Hindu-Muslim rioting resulted in at least 2,000 people being killed
2002 – Winona Ryder was sentenced to 36 months of probation and 480 hours of community service stemming from her conviction for shoplifting from Saks Fifth Avenue. She was also ordered to pay $10,000 in fines and restitution.
2002 – Officials released the detailed plans for a $4.7 million memorial commemorating Princess Diana. The large oval fountain was planned to be constructed in London’s Hyde Park.
Celebrity birthdays
Actress Deanna Durbin is 86. Game-show host Wink Martindale is 73. Actor Max Baer Jr. is 70. Musician Chris Hillman (the Byrds) is 63. Musician Terry Woods (the Pogues) is 60. Singer Southside Johnny Lyon is 59. Actor Jeff Bridges is 58. Musician Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) is 56. Actress Patricia Wettig is 56. Singer Cassandra Wilson is 52. Actress Marisa Tomei is 43. Actress Chelsea Noble is 43. Actor Fred Armisen is 41. Rapper Jay-Z is 38. Actor Kevin Sussman (“Ugly Betty”) is 37. Model Tyra Banks is 34. Singer Lila McCann is 26. Actress Lindsay Felton is 23. Actor Orlando Brown is 20.
~~~~~courtesy of www.on-this-day.com
