Today in History: December 12

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On this day in Bahamian history, nine men accused and convicted of piracy in 1718 were executed by hanging in Nassau.

It was part of Governor Woodes Rogers’ commission to rid the colony of pirates.

The men had been captured by former pirate Benjamin Hornigold who had accepted the king’s pardon and in turn was hired by Rogers to assist in capturing pirates who did not and continued to live outside the law.

Then in 1924, Bahamian choreographer and dancer Hubert Farrington was born.

Farrington was a ballet dancer, choreographer and founder of the Nassau Civic Ballet on Sears Road. He died on December 8, 2008, just four days before his 84th birthday after being injured in a hit and run accident near Wendy’s on Mackey Street.

On December 12, 1972 The Bahamas Independence Conference was held at Marlborough House in London, England.

A delegation of government and Opposition members went to London to debate and finalize the proposed constitution and address questions about statehood and citizenship.

Members of the governing Progressive Liberal Party were headed by Lynden Pindling, while the Opposition Free National Movement was led by Kendal Issacs.

The constitutional talks continued from December 12-20 that year, as government indicated it was prepared to recommend the passage of legislation for the independence of The Bahamas on July 10, 1973.

On this day in 1972, the National Insurance Programme was created with the signing of the National Insurance Act, 1972.

Its primary mission was and is to provide income replacement for workers. It’s benefits for contributors continues today with expanded offerings that now include unemployment.

On this day in 1997, Half Moon Cay opened on Little San Salvador.

The island is owned by Holland America, operating a cruise ship port for its passengers.

In world history on this day in 1913, Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “Mona Lisa” was recovered in Florence two years after it had been stolen from the Louvre in Paris.