TV show host Richard McCourt

Events in 1976 and 12-8

Events in the world in the birth year of Richard McCourt

• Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot becomes prime minister (and virtual dictator) of Cambodia after Prince Sihanouk steps down (April 2).
• Israeli airborne commandos attack Uganda's Entebbe Airport and free 103 hostages held by pro-Palestinian hijackers of Air France plane; one Israeli and several Ugandan soldiers killed in raid (July 4).
• 19-month civil war ends in Lebanon after threatening to escalate to global level (Nov.).

Birthday Richard McCourt (12-8) in history

• Day 12-8 year 1624: Cardinal Richelieu was named head of state of France by King Louis XIII.
• Day 12-8 year 1851: Issac Singer patented the sewing machine.
• Day 12-8 year 1865: British surgeon Joseph Lister became the first doctor to use an antiseptic during surgery.
• Day 12-8 year 1898: Hawaii was formally annexed to the United States.
• Day 12-8 year 1972: The last American combat troops left Vietnam.
• Day 12-8 year 1985: In the world's worst single-aircraft disaster, a Japan Air Lines 747 crashed into Mount Osutaka, killing 520 of the 524 aboard.
• Day 12-8 year 1998: Swiss banks agreed to pay $1.25 billion to settle lawsuits brought by Holocaust survivors and their heirs. The banks had kept millions of dollars deposited by Holocaust victims before and during World War II.
• Day 12-8 year 2000: The Russian military submarine, Kursk, and its crew were lost in the Barents Sea.
• Day 12-8 year 2004: N.J. governor James McGreevey announced his resignation.
• Day 12-8 year 2013: Notorious Boston gangster James (Whitey) Bulger was found guilty of 31 of the 32 charges he faced, including murder, extortion, money laundering, drug dealing and possession of weapons.