MARCH 12 | Birthdays and Events

Notable Birthdays for March 12

Jane Pierce (1806-1863) - The 15th First Lady of the U.S. (President Franklin Pierce ).

Clement Studebaker (1831-1901) - Co-founder of the H & C Studebaker Company.

William V. Ranous (1857-1915) - Silent film and Shakespearean stage actor.

Dorrit Hoffleit (1907-2007) - Astronomer and academic who helped write the Bright Star Catalog.

Leonard Chess (1917-1969) - Co-founder of Chess Records.

Millard Kaufman (1917-2009) - One of the creators of the iconic Mr. Magoo.

David Nadien (1926-2014) -  Virtuoso violinist and concertmaster.

Herbert Kelleher (1931-2019) - Co-founder of Southwest Airlines.

William "Billie" Thomas (1931-1980) - Child actor who played Buckwheat in Our Gang (Little Rascals).

Ken Spears (1938-2020) - Co-creator of the Scooby Doo franchise.

Liza Minnelli (1946-Still Living) - Iconic, award-winning actress, singer and dancer.

Frank Welker (1946-Still Living) - Voice actor of some of the most iconic animated characters, including Fred from Scooby-Doo, Baby Kermit in the Muppet Babies, and  Garfield in The Garfield Show.

Marlon Jackson (1957-Still Living) - Member of the Jackson 5 who now runs the Study Peace Foundation.

Memorable Events for March 12

1664 - New Jersey becomes an English colony.

1755 - The first steam engine is installed to pump water from a mine.

1884 - Mississippi establishes the first state college for women.

1894 - Coca-Cola is sold in bottles for the first time.

1904 - Andrew Carnegie establishes Carnegie Hero Fund.

1912 - The Girl Guides (later renamed the Girl Scouts) are founded.

1945 - New York becomes the first state to prohibit discrimination by race and creed in employment.

1970 - The voting age in the U.S. is lowered from 21 to 18.