March 12

  • 2001 The first case of foot-and-mouth disease in the Republic of Ireland in 60 years was confirmed in a flock of sheep on a farm in Jenkinstown, Co. Louth.
  • 1947 In a speech to Congress, President Harry S. Truman enunciated what became known as the ‘Truman Doctrine’—US support for nations threatened by Soviet expansionism.
  • 1917 In Russia the Petrograd soviet (workers’ council) was founded, followed by numerous others throughout the country, competing for power with the new provisional government.
  • 1910 Timothy Harrington, Irish Party MP who was mainly responsible for devising the ‘Plan of Campaign’ (1886–90) during the Land War, died.