What Happened on August 16?
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events
births
deaths
holidays
EVENTS ON AUGUST 16
Explore the most important historical events that happened on August 16, featuring key moments that shaped the world.
Battle of Acosta Ñu
Year:
1869
Battle of Acosta Ñu: A Paraguayan battalion largely made up of children is massacred by the Brazilian Army during the Paraguayan War.
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Franco-Prussian War
Year:
1870
Franco-Prussian War: The Battle of Mars-la-Tour is fought, resulting in a Prussian victory.
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Richard Wagner
Year:
1876
Richard Wagner's Siegfried, the penultimate opera in his Ring cycle, is premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus.
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Dominican Restoration War
Year:
1863
The Dominican Restoration War begins when Gregorio Luperón raises the Dominican flag in Santo Domingo after Spain had recolonized the country.
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Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Year:
1859
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany formally deposes the exiled House of Lorraine.
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Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa
Year:
1844
Governor-general of the Philippines Narciso Claveria, signs a decree to reform the country's calendar by skipping Tuesday, December 31, as a solution to anomalies that had existed since Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in 1521.
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James Buchanan
Year:
1858
U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. However, a weak signal forces a shutdown of the service in a few weeks.
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San Sebastian Church (Manila)
Year:
1891
The Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila, the first all-steel church in Asia, is officially inaugurated and blessed.
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BIRTHS ON AUGUST 16
Discover famous people and historical figures born on August 16, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.
Ketty Lester
Year of birth:
1934
Ketty Lester, American singer and actress
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Pierre Richard
Year of birth:
1934
Pierre Richard, French actor, director, and screenwriter
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John Standing
Year of birth:
1934
John Standing, English actor
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Sam Trimble
Year of birth:
1934
Sam Trimble, Australian cricketer (died 2019)
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Wilhelm Wundt
Year of birth:
1832
Wilhelm Wundt, German physician, psychologist, and physiologist (died 1920)
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Diana Wynne Jones
Year of birth:
1934
Diana Wynne Jones, English author (died 2011)
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Alan Hodgkinson
Year of birth:
1936
Alan Hodgkinson, English footballer and coach (died 2015)
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Cliff Fletcher
Year of birth:
1935
Cliff Fletcher, Canadian businessman
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DEATHS ON AUGUST 16
Look back at notable individuals who passed away on August 16, and learn about their lasting influences on history.
Babe Ruth
Year of death:
1948
Babe Ruth, American baseball player and coach (born 1895)
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Takijirō Ōnishi
Year of death:
1945
Takijirō Ōnishi, Japanese admiral (born 1891)
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Margaret Mitchell
Year of death:
1949
Margaret Mitchell, American journalist and author (born 1900)
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Lydia Field Emmet
Year of death:
1952
Lydia Field Emmet, American painter and academic (born 1866)
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Bela Lugosi
Year of death:
1956
Bela Lugosi, Hungarian-American actor (born 1882)
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Andrej Hlinka
Year of death:
1938
Andrej Hlinka, Slovak priest, journalist, and politician (born 1864)
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Robert Johnson
Year of death:
1938
Robert Johnson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1911)
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Francis Moran (cardinal)
Year of death:
1911
Patrick Francis Moran, Irish-Australian cardinal (born 1830)
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HOLIDAYS ON AUGUST 16
See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on August 16 around the world.
Image of Edessa
Christian feast day: Translation of the Acheiropoietos icon from Edessa to Constantinople. (Eastern Orthodox Church)
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August 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: August 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
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Gozan no Okuribi
Gozan no Okuribi (Kyoto, Japan)
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Xicolatada
Xicolatada (Palau-de-Cerdagne, France)
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Saint Roch
Christian feast day: Roch
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Stephen I of Hungary
Christian feast day: Stephen I of Hungary
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Children's Day
Children's Day (Paraguay)
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Saint Armel
Christian feast day: Armel (Armagillus)
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