Births on April 12

William B. Bankhead

Born on April 12, 1874

William B. Bankhead, American lawyer and politician, 47th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (d. 1940)

William Brockman Bankhead (April 12, 1874 – September 15, 1940) was an American politician who served as the 42nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1936 to 1940, representing Alabama's 10th and later 7th congressional districts as a Democrat from 1917 to 1940. Bankhead was a strong liberal and a prominent supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal of pro-labor union legislation, thus clashing with most other Southern Democrats in Congress at the time. Bankhead described himself as proud to be a politician, by which he meant that he did not neglect matters that concerned his district or reelection. He was the father of actress Tallulah Bankhead.

Bankhead died on September 15, 1940, from an abdominal hemorrhage, while still in office.

References

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Events on 1874

28 Feb

Tichborne case
One of the longest cases ever heard in an English court ends when the defendant is convicted of perjury for attempting to assume the identity of the heir to the Tichborne baronetcy.
15 Mar

Second Treaty of Saigon
France and Viet Nam sign the Second Treaty of Saigon, further recognizing the full sovereignty of France over Cochinchina.
27 May

Gert Alberts
The first group of Dorsland trekkers under the leadership of Gert Alberts leaves Pretoria.
7 Nov

Thomas Nast
A cartoon by Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly, is considered the first important use of an elephant as a symbol for the United States Republican Party.
25 Nov

Panic of 1873
The United States Greenback Party is established as a political party consisting primarily of farmers affected by the Panic of 1873.

Births on April 12

William B. Bankhead

Born on April 12, 1874

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1874

Tichborne case

Second Treaty of Saigon

Gert Alberts

Thomas Nast

Panic of 1873