On This Day — May 16

Famous events, births, and deaths from May 16 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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40 events · 186 births · 83 deaths recorded for May 16.

🕰️ Notable Events on May 16

2014 — Twelve people are killed in two explosions in the Gikomba market area of Nairobi, Kenya. Wikipedia ↗
2011 — STS-134 (ISS assembly flight ULF6), launched from the Kennedy Space Center on the 25th and final flight for Space Shuttle Endeavour. Wikipedia ↗
2005 — Kuwait permits women's suffrage in a 35-23 National Assembly vote. Wikipedia ↗
2003 — In Morocco, 33 civilians are killed and more than 100 people are injured in the Casablanca terrorist attacks. Wikipedia ↗
1997 — Mobutu Sese Seko, the President of Zaire, flees the country. Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom addresses a joint session of the United States Congress. She is the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress. Wikipedia ↗
1988 — A report by the Surgeon General of the United States C. Everett Koop states that the addictive properties of nicotine are similar to those of heroin and cocaine. Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement rebels against the Sudanese government. Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Josip Broz Tito is elected president for life of Yugoslavia. Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Venera program: Venera 5, a Soviet space probe, lands on Venus. Wikipedia ↗
1966 — The Communist Party of China issues the "May 16 Notice", marking the beginning of the Cultural Revolution. Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Park Chung-hee leads a coup d'état to overthrow the Second Republic of South Korea. Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Theodore Maiman operates the first optical laser (a ruby laser), at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California. Wikipedia ↗
1959 — The Triton Fountain is inaugurated in Valletta, Malta. Wikipedia ↗
1951 — The first regularly scheduled transatlantic flights begin between Idlewild Airport (now John F Kennedy International Airport) in New York City and Heathrow Airport in London, operated by El Al Israel Airlines. Wikipedia ↗
1943 — The Holocaust: The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising ends. Wikipedia ↗
1929 — In Hollywood, the first Academy Awards ceremony takes place. Wikipedia ↗
1920 — In Rome, Pope Benedict XV canonizes Joan of Arc. Wikipedia ↗
1919 — A naval Curtiss NC-4 aircraft commanded by Albert Cushing Read leaves Trepassey, Newfoundland, for Lisbon via the Azores on the first transatlantic flight. Wikipedia ↗
1918 — The Sedition Act of 1918 is passed by the U.S. Congress, making criticism of the government during wartime an imprisonable offense. It will be repealed less than two years later. Wikipedia ↗
1916 — The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the French Third Republic sign the secret wartime Sykes-Picot Agreement partitioning former Ottoman territories such as Iraq and Syria. Wikipedia ↗
1891 — The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opens in Frankfurt, Germany, and will feature the world's first long distance transmission of high-power, three-phase electric current (the most common form today). Wikipedia ↗
1888 — Nikola Tesla delivers a lecture describing the equipment which will allow efficient generation and use of alternating currents to transmit electric power over long distances. Wikipedia ↗
1874 — A flood on the Mill River in Massachusetts destroys much of four villages and kills 139 people. Wikipedia ↗
1868 — United States President Andrew Johnson is acquitted in his impeachment trial by one vote in the United States Senate. Wikipedia ↗
1866 — The United States Congress establishes the nickel. Wikipedia ↗
1843 — The first major wagon train heading for the Pacific Northwest sets out on the Oregon Trail with one thousand pioneers from Elm Grove, Missouri. Wikipedia ↗
1834 — The Battle of Asseiceira is fought, the last and decisive engagement of the Liberal Wars in Portugal. Wikipedia ↗
1822 — Greek War of Independence: The Turks capture the Greek town of Souli. Wikipedia ↗
1812 — Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov signs the Treaty of Bucharest, ending the Russo-Turkish War. Bessarabia is annexed by Imperial Russia. Wikipedia ↗
1811 — Peninsular War: The allies Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom, defeat the French at the Battle of Albuera. Wikipedia ↗
1771 — The Battle of Alamance, a pre-American Revolutionary War battle between local militia and a group of rebels called The "Regulators", occurs in present-day Alamance County, North Carolina. Wikipedia ↗
1770 — A 14-year-old Marie Antoinette marries 15-year-old Louis-Auguste who later becomes king of France. Wikipedia ↗
1584 — Santiago de Vera becomes sixth Governor-General of the Spanish colony of the Philippines. Wikipedia ↗
1568 — Mary, Queen of Scots, flees to England. Wikipedia ↗
1532 — Sir Thomas More resigns as Lord Chancellor of England. Wikipedia ↗
1527 — The Florentines drive out the Medici for a second time and Florence re-establishes itself as a republic. Wikipedia ↗
1204 — Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Wikipedia ↗
946 — Emperor Suzaku abdicates the throne in favor of his brother Murakami who becomes the 62nd emperor of Japan. Wikipedia ↗
218 — Julia Maesa, aunt of the assassinated Caracalla, is banished to her home in Syria by self-proclaimed emperor Macrinus. She declares her 14-year-old grandson Elagabalus to be emperor of Rome. Macrinus is later deposed. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on May 16

1996 — Louisa Chirico, American tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1995 — Elizabeth Ralston, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norwegian biathlete Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Karol Mets, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Jeff Skinner, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgarian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Ashley Wagner, American figure skater Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Amanda Carreras, Gibraltarian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Thomas Brodie-Sangster, English actor Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Darko Šarović, Serbian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Omar Strong, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Behati Prinsloo, Namibian model Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Jesús Castillo, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Martynas Gecevičius, Lithuanian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Jaak Põldma, Estonian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Tom Onslow-Cole, English race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Megan Fox, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Andy Keogh, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Shamcey Supsup, Filipino model and architect Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Anja Mittag, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Rodrigo Peters Marques, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Corey Perry, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Darío Cvitanich, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Tomáš Fleischmann, Czech ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Jensen Lewis, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Rick Rypien, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Daniel Kerr, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Kyle Wellwood, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Ricardo Costa, Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Nuria Llagostera Vives, Spanish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Scott Nicholls, English motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Lionel Scaloni, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Melanie Lynskey, New Zealand actress Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Emilíana Torrini, Icelandic singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Dirk Nannes, Australian-Dutch cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Tony Kakko, Finnish musician, composer, and vocalist Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Laura Pausini, Italian singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Sonny Sandoval, American singer-songwriter and rapper Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Tori Spelling, American actress, reality television personality, and author Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Christian Califano, French rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Matthew Hart, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Phil Clarke, English rugby league player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Rachel Goswell, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Gabriela Sabatini, Argentinian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Danielle Spencer, Australian singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
1969 — David Boreanaz, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Tucker Carlson, American journalist, co-founded The Daily Caller Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Steve Lewis, American sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Ralph Tresvant, American singer and producer Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Doug Brocail, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Susan Williams, Baroness Williams of Trafford, British politician Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Janet Jackson, American singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Scott Reeves, American singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Thurman Thomas, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Krist Novoselic, American bass player, songwriter, author, and activist Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Tanel Tammet, Estonian computer scientist, engineer, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1964 — John Salley, American basketball player and actor Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Boyd Tinsley, American singer-songwriter and violinist Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Milton Jones, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Rachel Griffith, Anglo-American economist Wikipedia ↗
1963 — David Wilkinson, English theologian and academic Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Jimmy Hood, Scottish engineer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Helga Radtke, German long jumper Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Kevin McDonald, Canadian actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Charles Wright, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Landon Deireragea, Nauruan politician, Nauruan Speaker of Parliament Wikipedia ↗
1960 — S. Shanmuganathan, Sri Lankan commander and politician (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Mitch Webster, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Mare Winningham, American actress and singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Joan Benoit, American runner Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Benjamin Mancroft, 3rd Baron Mancroft, English politician Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Yuri Shevchuk, Russian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Anthony St John, 22nd Baron St John of Bletso, English lawyer and businessman Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Bob Suter, American ice hockey player and coach (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Olga Korbut, Soviet gymnast Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Jack Morris, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Hazel O'Connor, English-born Irish singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Páidí Ó Sé, Irish footballer and manager (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Debra Winger, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Dafydd Williams, Canadian physician and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Pierce Brosnan, Irish-American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Peter Onorati, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Richard Page, American singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Kitanoumi Toshimitsu, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 55th Yokozuna (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1953 — David Maclean, Scottish politician Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Stephen Woolman, Lord Woolman, Scottish judge and academic Wikipedia ↗
1952 — James Herndon, American psychologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Christian Lacroix, French fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Jonathan Richman, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Janet Soskice, Canadian philosopher and theologian Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Georg Bednorz, German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Ray Condo, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Bruce Coville, American author Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Rick Reuschel, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Jesper Christensen, Danish actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Judy Finnigan, English talk show host and author Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Enrico Fumia, Italian automobile and product designer Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Emma Georgina Rothschild, English historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Staf Van Roosbroeck, Belgian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Barbara Lee, American singer (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Darrell Sweet, Scottish drummer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Roch Thériault, Canadian religious leader (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1946 — John Law, English sociologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Robert Fripp, English guitarist, songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Billy Cobham, Panamanian-American drummer, composer, and bandleader Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Antal Nagy, Hungarian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Danny Trejo, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Kay Andrews, Baroness Andrews, English politician Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Dan Coats, American politician and diplomat, 29th United States Ambassador to Germany Wikipedia ↗
1942 — David Penry-Davey, English lawyer and judge Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Denis Hart, Australian archbishop Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Stuart Bell, English lawyer and politician (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Ivan Sutherland, American computer scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Yvonne Craig, American ballet dancer and actress (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Karl Lehmann, German cardinal Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Floyd Smith, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Kenneth O. Morgan, Welsh historian and author Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Antony Walker, English general Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Vujadin Boškov, Serbian footballer, coach, and manager (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — K. Natwar Singh, Indian scholar and politician, Indian Minister of External Affairs Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., American soldier and politician, 85th Governor of Connecticut Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Friedrich Gulda, Austrian pianist and composer (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Betty Carter, American singer-songwriter (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — John Conyers, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Claude Morin, Canadian academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Adrienne Rich, American poet, essayist, and feminist (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Billy Martin, American baseball player and coach (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Nancy Roman, American astronomer Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Ola Vincent, Nigerian banker and economist (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Nílton Santos, Brazilian footballer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Dawda Jawara, 1st President of the Gambia Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Victoria Fromkin, American linguist and academic (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Merton Miller, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Peter Underwood, English parapsychologist and author (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Harry Carey, Jr., American actor, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Martine Carol, French actress (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Liberace, American pianist and entertainer (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Ramon Margalef, Spanish ecologist and biologist (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1918 — Wilf Mannion, English footballer and manager (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1917 — Ben Kuroki, American sergeant and pilot (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1917 — James C. Murray, American lawyer and politician (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1917 — Juan Rulfo, Mexican author and photographer (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
1916 — Ephraim Katzir, Israeli biophysicist and politician, 4th President of Israel (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1915 — Mario Monicelli, Italian director and screenwriter (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1914 — Edward T. Hall, American anthropologist and author (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1913 — Woody Herman, American singer, saxophonist, and clarinet player (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Studs Terkel, American historian and author (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Olga Bergholz, Russian poet and author (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Higashifushimi Kunihide, Japanese monk and educator (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Aleksandr Ivanovich Laktionov, Russian painter and educator (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
1909 — Margaret Sullavan, American actress and singer (d. 1960) Wikipedia ↗
1909 — Luigi Villoresi, Italian race car driver (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1907 — Bob Tisdall, Irish hurdler (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1906 — Ernie McCormick, Australian cricketer (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1906 — Alfred Pellan, Canadian painter and educator (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1906 — Arturo Uslar Pietri, Venezuelan lawyer, journalist, and author (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1906 — Margret Rey, German author and illustrator (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1905 — Henry Fonda, American actor (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
1903 — Charles F. Brannock, American inventor and manufacturer (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
1898 — Tamara de Lempicka, Polish-American painter (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗