What Happened on October 16?
All
events
births
deaths
holidays
EVENTS ON OCTOBER 16
Explore the most important historical events that happened on October 16, featuring key moments that shaped the world.
Origins of the American Civil War
Year:
1859
Origins of the American Civil War: Abolitionist John Brown and his supporters launch a raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Like
Girton College, Cambridge
Year:
1869
Girton College, Cambridge is founded, becoming England's first residential college for women.
Like
William T. G. Morton
Year:
1846
William T. G. Morton administers ether anesthesia during a surgical operation.
Like
William Rowan Hamilton
Year:
1843
William Rowan Hamilton invents quaternions, a three-dimensional system of complex numbers.
Like
Burning of Parliament
Year:
1834
Much of the ancient structure of the Palace of Westminster in London burns to the ground.
Like
Queen's University at Kingston
Year:
1841
Queen's University is founded in the Province of Canada.
Like
Cardiff Giant
Year:
1869
The Cardiff Giant, one of the most famous American hoaxes, is "discovered".
Like
Brigham Young University
Year:
1875
Brigham Young University is founded in Provo, Utah.
Like
BIRTHS ON OCTOBER 16
Discover famous people and historical figures born on October 16, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.
Tim McCarver
Year of birth:
1941
Tim McCarver, American baseball player and sportscaster (died 2023)
Like
Mel Counts
Year of birth:
1941
Mel Counts, American basketball player
Like
Emma Nicholson
Year of birth:
1941
Emma Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, English computer programmer and politician
Like
Barry Corbin
Year of birth:
1940
Barry Corbin, American actor and producer
Like
Dave DeBusschere
Year of birth:
1940
Dave DeBusschere, American basketball player and coach (died 2003)
Like
Fred Turner (musician)
Year of birth:
1943
Fred Turner, Canadian singer-songwriter and bass player
Like
Elizabeth Loftus
Year of birth:
1944
Elizabeth Loftus, American psychologist
Like
William Forster (Australian politician)
Year of birth:
1818
William Forster, Indian-Australian politician, 4th Premier of New South Wales (died 1882)
Like
DEATHS ON OCTOBER 16
Look back at notable individuals who passed away on October 16, and learn about their lasting influences on history.
Julius Streicher
Year of death:
1946
Nuremberg trial executions of the Main Trial:
Like
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Year of death:
1946
Nuremberg trial executions of the Main Trial:
Like
Jean de Brunhoff
Year of death:
1937
Jean de Brunhoff, French poet and playwright (born 1899)
Like
Arthur Seyss-Inquart
Year of death:
1946
Nuremberg trial executions of the Main Trial:
Like
Fritz Sauckel
Year of death:
1946
Nuremberg trial executions of the Main Trial:
Like
Wilhelm Keitel
Year of death:
1946
Nuremberg trial executions of the Main Trial:
Like
Alfred Rosenberg
Year of death:
1946
Nuremberg trial executions of the Main Trial:
Like
Effie Adelaide Rowlands
Year of death:
1936
Effie Adelaide Rowlands, British writer (born 1859)
Like
HOLIDAYS ON OCTOBER 16
See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on October 16 around the world.
Margaret Mary Alacoque
Christian feast day: Marguerite Marie Alacoque
Like
Bulgarian Air Force
Air Force Day (Bulgaria)
Like
Hugh Latimer
Christian feast day: Hugh Latimer (Anglicanism)
Like
Marie-Marguerite d'Youville
Christian feast day: Marie-Marguerite d'Youville
Like
Nicholas Ridley (martyr)
Christian feast day: Nicholas Ridley (Anglicanism)
Like
October 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: October 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Like
Pope Victor III
Christian feast day: Pope Victor III
Like
Beatification
Christian feast day: Blessed Thevarparampil Kunjachan (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church / Catholic Church)
Like