Today, May 12

1821…. The first major battle of the Greek revolution is marked, the battle of Valtetsi. Theodoros Kolokotronis is at the gates of Tripoli.

1902… The first Greek cement factory called “TITAN” is founded in Piraeus by Nikolaos and Andreas Hatzikyriakos. The first production unit is established in Elefsina.

1930… The Fire Service is founded by the Venizelos government.

1937…. The enthronement ceremony of King George VI of England takes place in Westminster Abbey. He ascended the throne after his brother Edward abdicated for the “eyes” of the American woman, Wallis Simpson.

1947… Makronisos camp is inaugurated, which is mainly intended for the incarceration of “suspect military men”.

1955…. In Greece, the contract for the execution of the Ptolemaida works and the construction of a thermoelectric plant is signed.

1982…. In the holy pilgrimage of Fatima in Portugal, Pope John Paul II receives his second assassination attempt. Security forces arrest a Spanish priest just before he lunges at the Pontiff with his bayonet.

1991…. In Nepal, the first democratic elections in 32 years are held.

2002… Former US President Jimmy Carter makes a 5-day visit to Cuba, becoming the first President, current or former, to visit Fidel Castro’s island since the 1959 revolution.

On this day, in 1820, Florence Nightingale, an English nurse, who established nursing as a profession, was born, in 1907, the American actress, Katharine Hepburn, and in 1939, the politician, Miltiadis Evert, who served as the mayor of Athens and president of the National Socialist Party.

On the same day in 1992, the poet and lyricist, Nikos Gatsos, and in 2001, the American singer, Perry Como, died.