12 MAY
1729 Michael Friedrich Benedikt Baron von Melas (12 May 1729 â 31 May 1806) was a Transylvanian-born field marshal of Saxon descent for the Austrian Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in Radeln, Transylvania (nowadays RoadeÈ, part of BuneÈti commune, BraÈov County, Romania) in 1729 and joined the Austrian Army at age 17. He served in the Seven Years’ War as aide de camp for Leopold Josef Graf Daun. He was promoted to colonel in 1781. He fought on the lower Rhine in 1794 and the middle Rhine in 1795. Von Melas later led the Austrian Army in Italy during Napoleon Bonaparte’s campaigns in Italy, part of the War of the Second Coalition. Serving under Russian field marshal Alexander Suvorov, who commanded Second Coalition forces, he commanded Austrian forces in victories at the battles of Cassano, Trebbia, Novi, Genola, and the Siege of Genoa, and came near to another victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Marengo before making the mistake of handing over command to a subordinate for what he thought was the pursuit from the field of a beaten foe. A stand made by the French forces further down the road, and a subsequent counter-attack by the French General Louis Desaix led to a defeat for von Melas’ forces. The day after the battle he was compelled to sign the Convention of Alexandria, which gave the rule of Italy up to the Mincio River to Napoleon, the Habsburg Crown’s authority being in consequence forced out of Italy. Von Melas was later a Habsburg commander in Bohemia.
1806 Amos Beebe Eaton (May 12, 1806 â February 21, 1877) was a career officer in the United States Army, serving as a general for the Union during the American Civil War.
1812 Louis Blenker (July 31, 1812 â October 31, 1863) was a German revolutionary and American soldier. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he organized the 8th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, of which he became colonel. He was noted for his coverage of the retreat at Bull Run and for his performance in western Virginia at the Battle of Cross Keys. For his gallantry at Bull Run he was raised to the rank of brigadier general of volunteers.
1894 Clemente Primieri (12 May 1894 â 15 February 1981) was an Italian general, best known for being the leader of Gruppo di Combattimento Cremona, one of the units of the Italian Co-Belligerent Army which fought alongside the Allies in the latter part of World War II.
1900 Joseph John Rochefort (May 12, 1900 â July 20, 1976) was an American naval officer and cryptanalyst. He was a major figure in the United States Navy’s cryptographic and intelligence operations from 1925 to 1946, particularly in the Battle of Midway. His contributions and those of his team were pivotal to victory in the Pacific War.
1937 George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 â June 22, 2008) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, and author. After dropping out of high school, in 1954 Carlin joined the Air Force to use the G.I. Bill to cover the costs of broadcasting school. There arenât many details about Carlinâs service in the Air Force, but his relationship with the military was rocky. He was trained as a radar technician, and was stationed in Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana.
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