APRIL 12 | Birthdays and Events
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Notable Birthdays for April 12
Lyman Hall (1724-1790) - Founding Father and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
John Shaw Billings (1838-1913) - Surgeon who modernized the U.S. Army Library of the Surgeon General's Office.
Frederic G. Melcher (1879-1963) - Founder of Children's Book Week.
Imogen Cunningham (1883-1976) - Famous photographer known for her botanical photography and industrial landscapes.
Robert Lee Scott, Jr. (1908-2006) - WWII Flying Ace.
Beverly Cleary (1916-2021) - Famous children's author who wrote Henry Huggins and Ramona and Her Mother.
Benjamin Libet (1916-2007) - Neuropsychologist who is considered one of the early pioneers in the study of human consciousness.
Curtis Turner (1924-1970) - Auto racer who ran 184 NASCAR races over 17 years, wining 17 titles.
Evelyn Berezin (1925-2018) - Computer scientist and engineer who created the first word processor and the first airline reservation system.
Herbert Butros Khaury (1932-1996) - Singer also known as "Tiny Tim" who sang Tiptoe Through the Tulips.
Frank Bank (1942-2013) - Actor best known for his role as Lumpy in Leave it to Beaver.
David Letterman (1947-Still Living) - Comedian and talk show host of the Late Night with David Letterman (NBC) and then Late Show with David Letterman (CBS).
Carol Ross Barney (1949-Still Living) - The first woman architect to design a federal building.
David Cassidy (1950-2017) - Lead singer of The Partridge Family.
Shannen Doherty (1971-2024) - Actress with primary roles in in Little House on the Prairie, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed.
Memorable Events for April 12
1858 - Michael J Phelan wins the first 1st U.S. billiards championship.
1877 - The catcher's mask is used for the first time in a baseball game.
1892 - George C Blickensderfer patents the first portable typewriter.
1938 - New York becomes the first state to require medical tests for marriage licenses.
1945 - President Roosevelt dies in office and VP Truman becomes President.
1955 - The polio vaccine is declared safe and effective.