On This Day in History — April 16

Highlights of April 16

• 2014 — The ferry MV Sewol capsized and sank off Donggeochado, South Korea, killing 306 people, mainly students from Danwon High School. Read more
• 2007 — In one of the deadliest shooting incidents in United States history, a gunman killed 32 people and wounded over 20 more before committing suicide at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Read more
• 2001 — India and Bangladesh began a six-day conflict over their disputed border, which ended in a stalemate. Read more
• 1963 — In response to an open letter written by white clergymen, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail in defence of the strategy of nonviolent resistance against racism. Read more
• 1948 — The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, headquartered in Paris, was founded. Read more
• 1947 — American financier and presidential adviser Bernard Baruch first described the post–World War II tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States as a "cold war". Read more
• 1945 — Second World War: British and Canadian forces concluded the Liberation of Arnhem in the Netherlands from German occupation. Read more
• 1919 — Polish–Soviet War: The Polish army launched the Vilna offensive to capture Vilnius (now in Lithuania) from the Red Army. Read more
• 1917 — World War I: Several French army corps began a massive assault against the German-occupied Chemin des Dames ridge, south of Laon, France. Read more
• 1912 — American pilot Harriet Quimby (pictured) became the first woman to fly across the English Channel. Read more
• 1862 — Slavery in Washington, D.C., ended when the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act became law. Read more
• 1799 — French Revolutionary Wars: Severely outnumbered French forces repulsed an Ottoman attack at the Battle of Mount Tabor in present-day Israel. Read more
• 1520 — A revolt of citizens in Toledo, Castile, opposed to the rule of the foreign-born Charles I began when the royal government attempted to unseat radical city councilors. Read more
• 556 — Emperor Justinian I approved and consecrated Pope Pelagius I. Read more
• 69 — After defeat by Vitellius' troops at Bedriacum, Roman emperor Otho killed himself. Read more

Events

• 2024 — The historic Børsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, is severely damaged by a fire. Read more
• 2018 — The New York Times and The New Yorker win the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for breaking news of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal. Read more
• 2016 — Ecuador's worst earthquake in nearly 40 years kills 676 and injures more than 230,000. Read more
• 2014 — The South Korean ferry MV Sewol capsizes and sinks near Jindo Island, killing 304 passengers and crew and leading to widespread criticism of the South Korean government, media, and shipping authorities. Read more
• 2013 — A 7.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Sistan and Balochistan province, Iran, killing at least 35 people and injuring 117 others. Read more
• 2013 — The 2013 Baga massacre is started when Boko Haram militants engage government soldiers in Baga. Read more
• 2012 — The trial for Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks, begins in Oslo, Norway. Read more
• 2012 — The Pulitzer Prize winners are announced. It was the first time since 1977 that no book won the Fiction Prize. Read more
• 2008 — The U.S. Supreme Court rules in the Baze v. Rees decision that execution by lethal injection does not violate the Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment. Read more
• 2007 — Virginia Tech shooting: Seung-Hui Cho murders 32 people and injures 17 before committing suicide. Read more
• 2003 — The Treaty of Accession is signed in Athens admitting ten new member states to the European Union. Read more
• 2001 — India and Bangladesh begin a five-day border conflict, but are unable to resolve the disputes about their border. Read more
• 1972 — Apollo program: The launch of Apollo 16 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Read more
• 1963 — U.S. civil rights campaigner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writes his open letter from Birmingham Jail, sometimes known as "The Negro Is Your Brother", while incarcerated in Birmingham, Alabama, for protesting against segregation. Read more
• 1961 — In a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader Fidel Castro declares that he is a Marxist–Leninist and that Cuba is going to adopt Communism. Read more
• 1948 — The Organization of European Economic Co-operation is formed. Read more
• 1947 — An explosion on board a freighter in port causes Texas City in the state of Texas, United States, to catch fire, killing almost 600 people. Read more
• 1947 — Bernard Baruch first applies the term "Cold War" to describe the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The Red Army begins the final assault on German forces around Berlin, with nearly one million troops fighting in the Battle of the Seelow Heights. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The United States Army liberates Nazi Sonderlager (high security) prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C (better known as Colditz). Read more
• 1945 — World War II: More than 7,000 die when the German transport ship Goya is sunk by a Soviet submarine. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: Allied forces start bombing Belgrade, killing about 1,100 people. This bombing fell on the Orthodox Christian Easter. Read more
• 1943 — Albert Hofmann accidentally discovers the hallucinogenic effects of the research drug LSD. He intentionally takes the drug three days later on April 19. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: The Italian-German Tarigo convoy is attacked and destroyed by British ships. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: The Nazi-affiliated Ustaše is put in charge of the Independent State of Croatia by the Axis powers after Operation 25 is effected. Read more
• 1925 — During the Communist St Nedelya Church assault in Sofia, Bulgaria, 150 are killed and 500 are wounded. Read more
• 1922 — The Treaty of Rapallo, pursuant to which Germany and the Soviet Union re-establish diplomatic relations, is signed. Read more
• 1919 — Mohandas Gandhi organizes a day of "prayer and fasting" in response to the killing of Indian protesters in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British colonial troops three days earlier. Read more
• 1919 — Polish–Lithuanian War: The Polish Army launches the Vilna offensive to capture Vilnius in modern Lithuania. Read more
• 1917 — Russian Revolution: Vladimir Lenin returns to Petrograd, Russia, from exile in Switzerland. Read more
• 1912 — Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman to fly an airplane across the English Channel. Read more
• 1910 — The oldest indoor ice hockey arena used for the sport in the 21st century, Boston Arena, opens for the first time. Read more
• 1908 — Natural Bridges National Monument is established in Utah. Read more
• 1881 — In Dodge City, Kansas, Bat Masterson fights his last gun battle. Read more
• 1878 — The Senate of the Grand Duchy of Finland issues a declaration establishing a city of Kotka on the southern part islands from the old Kymi parish. Read more
• 1863 — American Civil War: During the Vicksburg Campaign, gunboats commanded by acting Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter run downriver past Confederate artillery batteries at Vicksburg. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: Battle at Lee's Mills in Virginia. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, a bill ending slavery in the District of Columbia, becomes law. Read more
• 1858 — The Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, is dissolved. Read more
• 1853 — The Great Indian Peninsula Railway opens the first passenger rail in India, from Bori Bunder to Thane. Read more
• 1847 — Shooting of a Māori by an English sailor results in the opening of the Wanganui Campaign of the New Zealand Wars. Read more
• 1838 — The French Army captures Veracruz in the Pastry War. Read more
• 1818 — The United States Senate ratifies the Rush–Bagot Treaty, limiting naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Read more
• 1799 — French Revolutionary Wars: The Battle of Mount Tabor: Napoleon drives Ottoman Turks across the River Jordan near Acre. Read more
• 1797 — The Spithead mutiny begins, immobilising the Channel fleet. Read more
• 1780 — Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg founds the University of Münster. Read more
• 1746 — The Battle of Culloden is fought between the French-supported Jacobites and the British Hanoverian forces commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, in Scotland. Read more
• 1582 — Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma founds the settlement of Salta, Argentina. Read more
• 1520 — The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in Spain against the rule of Charles V. Read more
• 1346 — Stefan Dušan, "the Mighty", is crowned Emperor of the Serbs at Skopje, his empire occupying much of the Balkans. Read more
• 682 — Pope Leo II is elected head of the Catholic Church, although he will not be consecrated until 17 August. Read more
• 556 — Pope Pelagius I is consecrated following Imperial approval by Emperor Justinian I. Read more
• 73 — Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the First Jewish–Roman War. Read more
• 69 — Defeated by Vitellius' troops at Bedriacum, Roman emperor Otho commits suicide. Read more
• 1457 BC — Battle of Megiddo: The first battle to have been recorded in what is accepted as relatively reliable detail. Read more

Born on April 16

• 2002 — Sadie Sink, American actress Read more
• 1996 — Anya Taylor-Joy, Argentine-British actress Read more
• 1996 — Taylor Townsend, American tennis player Read more
• 1993 — Chance the Rapper, American rapper Read more
• 1993 — Mirai Nagasu, Japanese-American figure skater Read more
• 1992 — Brian Poe Llamanzares, Filipino journalist and politician Read more
• 1991 — Nolan Arenado, American baseball player Read more
• 1991 — Kim Kyung-jung, South Korean footballer Read more
• 1990 — Reggie Jackson, American basketball player Read more
• 1990 — Vangelis Mantzaris, Greek basketball player Read more
• 1990 — Tony McQuay, American sprinter Read more
• 1988 — Kyle Okposo, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Cenk Akyol, Turkish basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Aaron Lennon, English international footballer Read more
• 1986 — Shinji Okazaki, Japanese footballer Read more
• 1986 — Peter Regin, Danish ice hockey player Read more
• 1986 — Epke Zonderland, Dutch gymnast Read more
• 1985 — Luol Deng, Sudanese-English basketball player Read more
• 1985 — Nate Diaz, American mixed martial artist Read more
• 1985 — Brendon Leonard, New Zealand rugby player Read more
• 1985 — Katerina Stikoudi, Greek singer, actress, TV host, model, businesswoman, former champion swimmer and beauty pageant titleholder. Read more
• 1985 — Taye Taiwo, Nigerian footballer Read more
• 1984 — Claire Foy, English actress Read more
• 1984 — Tucker Fredricks, American speed skater Read more
• 1984 — Paweł Kieszek, Polish footballer Read more
• 1984 — Kerron Stewart, Jamaican sprinter Read more
• 1983 — Marié Digby, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress Read more
• 1983 — Cat Osterman, American softball player Read more
• 1982 — Gina Carano, American mixed martial artist and actress Read more
• 1982 — Boris Diaw, French basketball player Read more
• 1981 — Anestis Agritis, Greek footballer Read more
• 1979 — Christijan Albers, Dutch racing driver Read more
• 1979 — Lars Börgeling, German pole vaulter Read more
• 1979 — Daniel Browne, New Zealand rugby player Read more
• 1977 — Freddie Ljungberg, Swedish footballer Read more
• 1976 — Lukas Haas, American actor and musician Read more
• 1976 — Kelli O'Hara, American actress and singer Read more
• 1973 — Akon, Senegalese-American singer, rapper and songwriter Read more
• 1973 — Charlotta Sörenstam, Swedish golfer Read more
• 1973 — Teddy Cobeña, Spanish-Ecuadorian expressionist and representational sculptor Read more

Died on April 16

• 2026 — Justin Fairfax, American lawyer and politician, 41st Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (born 1979) Read more
• 2026 — Alex Manninger, Austrian footballer (born 1977) Read more
• 2025 — Nora Aunor, Filipino actress and recording artist (born 1953) Read more
• 2024 — Carl Erskine, American baseball player (born 1926) Read more
• 2024 — Bob Graham, American lawyer, author, and politician, 38th governor of Florida (born 1936) Read more
• 2021 — Andrew Peacock, Australian politician (born 1939) Read more
• 2021 — Helen McCrory, British actress (born 1968) Read more
• 2021 — Liam Scarlett, British choreographer (born 1986) Read more
• 2021 — John Dawes, Welsh rugby union player (born 1940) Read more
• 2018 — Harry Anderson, American actor and magician (born 1952) Read more
• 2015 — Valery Belousov, Russian ice hockey player and coach (born 1948) Read more
• 2015 — Stanislav Gross, Czech lawyer and politician, fifth Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (born 1969) Read more
• 2014 — Gyude Bryant, Liberian businessman and politician (born 1949) Read more
• 2014 — Aulis Rytkönen, Finnish footballer and manager (born 1929) Read more
• 2014 — Ernst Florian Winter, Austrian-American historian and political scientist (born 1923) Read more
• 2013 — Ali Kafi, Algerian politician (born 1928) Read more
• 2013 — Siegfried Ludwig, Austrian politician, 18th Governor of Lower Austria (born 1926) Read more
• 2013 — Pentti Lund, Finnish-Canadian ice hockey player (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — George Beverly Shea, Canadian-American singer-songwriter (born 1909) Read more
• 2013 — Pat Summerall, American football player and sportscaster (born 1930) Read more
• 2013 — Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, Mexican architect, designed the Tijuana Cultural Center and National Museum of Anthropology (born 1919) Read more
• 2012 — Sári Barabás, Hungarian soprano (born 1914) Read more
• 2012 — George Kunda, Zambian lawyer and politician, 11th Vice-President of Zambia (born 1956) Read more
• 2012 — Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, Danish businessman (born 1913) Read more
• 2012 — Carlo Petrini, Italian footballer and coach (born 1948) Read more
• 2011 — Gerry Alexander, Jamaican cricketer and veterinarian (born 1928) Read more
• 2011 — Allan Blakeney, Canadian scholar and politician, tenth Premier of Saskatchewan (born 1925) Read more
• 2011 — Sol Saks, American screenwriter and producer (born 1910) Read more
• 2010 — Rasim Delić, Bosnian general and convicted war criminal (born 1949) Read more
• 2009 — Michael Martin Dwyer, Irish security guard (born 1984) Read more
• 2009 — Eduardo Rózsa-Flores, Bolivian-Hungarian-Croatian mercenary, journalist, and actor (born 1960) Read more
• 2008 — Edward Norton Lorenz, American mathematician and meteorologist (born 1917) Read more
• 2007 — Frank Bateson, New Zealand astronomer (born 1909) Read more
• 2007 — Gaétan Duchesne, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1962) Read more
• 2007 — Maria Lenk, Brazilian swimmer (born 1915) Read more
• 2007 — Chandrabose Suthaharan, Sri Lankan journalist Read more
• 2005 — Kay Walsh, English actress, singer, and dancer (born 1911) Read more
• 2002 — Billy Ayre, English footballer and manager (born 1952) Read more
• 2002 — Ruth Fertel, American businesswoman, founded Ruth's Chris Steak House (born 1927) Read more
• 2002 — Robert Urich, American actor (born 1946) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Benedict Joseph Labre; Christian feast day: Bernadette Soubirous; Christian feast day: Drogo; Christian feast day: Engratia; Christian feast day: Fructuosus of Braga; Christian feast day: Isabella Gilmore (Church of England); Christian feast day: Martyrs of Zaragoza; Christian feast day: Molly Brant (Konwatsijayenni) (Anglican Church of Canada, Episcopal Church); Christian feast day: Turibius of Astorga; Christian feast day: April 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Birthday of José de Diego (Puerto Rico, United States); Birthday of Queen Margrethe II (Denmark); Flag Day (Jordan); Emancipation Day (Washington, D.C., United States); Memorial Day for the Victims of the Holocaust (Hungary); National Healthcare Decisions Day (United States); Remembrance of Chemical Attack on Balisan and Sheikh Wasan (Iraqi Kurdistan); World Voice Day

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