On This Day in History — December 16

Highlights of December 16

• 2014 — A hostage crisis in a Lindt chocolate café in Sydney, Australia, ended with police storming the building, killing the perpetrator and one of the hostages. Read more
• 2012 — A woman was gang-raped and fatally assaulted on a bus in Delhi, generating protests across India against inadequate security for women. Read more
• 1997 — Amid an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the British government banned the sale of beef on the bone for human consumption. Read more
• 1997 — "Dennō Senshi Porygon", an episode of the Japanese television series Pokémon, induced epileptic seizures in 685 children. Read more
• 1971 — The surrender of Pakistani forces in Dacca, East Pakistan, concluded the Bangladesh Liberation War and the India-Pakistan War. Read more
• 1938 — Adolf Hitler instituted the Cross of Honour of the German Mother, an order of merit for German mothers with at least four children. Read more
• 1930 — German-American gangster Herman Lamm killed himself during a botched robbery attempt in Clinton, Indiana, to avoid being captured by police. Read more
• 1922 — Gabriel Narutowicz (pictured), the first president of Poland, was assassinated only five days after having taken office. Read more
• 1920 — A magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck Haiyuan County, China, killing more than 250,000 people. Read more
• 1918 — Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas declared the formation of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, a puppet state created by Soviet Russia to justify the Lithuanian–Soviet War. Read more
• 1914 — First World War: The Imperial German Navy attacked ports in northern England, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties. Read more
• 1901 — English writer Beatrix Potter privately published 250 copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit (illustration shown) after several publishers' rejections. Read more
• 1899 — Thousand Days' War: Columbian Liberal rebels repelled a Conservative government attack at the Battle of Peralonso. Read more
• 1893 — Czech composer Antonín Dvořák's New World Symphony (audio featured) premiered at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Read more
• 1850 — Settlers of the Canterbury Association aboard Randolph and Charlotte Jane arrived to establish a colony at Christchurch, New Zealand. Read more
• 1811 — The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes struck the Midwestern United States and made the Mississippi River appear to run backward. Read more
• 1773 — American Revolution: A group of colonists threw chests of tea into Boston Harbor (pictured) to protest British taxation without representation. Read more
• 1761 — Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, Russian forces captured Kolberg, the last major Prussian port on the Baltic Sea. Read more
• 1740 — Prussian forces, led by Frederick the Great, moved into the Habsburg region of Silesia, starting the First Silesian War. Read more
• 1707 — The last recorded eruption of Japan's Mount Fuji released some 800 million m3 (28 billion cu ft) of volcanic ash. Read more
• 1689 — The Parliament of England enacted the Bill of Rights, setting out basic civil rights and later influencing other documents such as the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Read more
• 1653 — Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. Read more
• 1598 — Led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the Korean navy were victorious at Battle of Noryang, ending the Japanese invasions of Korea. Read more

Events

• 2024 — The Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, takes place, resulting in the death of three people. Read more
• 2022 — A landslide occurs at a camp at an organic farm near the town of Batang Kali in Selangor, Malaysia, trapping 92 people and killing 31. Read more
• 2014 — Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants attack an Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 150 people, 132 of them schoolchildren. Read more
• 2013 — A bus falls from an elevated highway in Manila, capital of the Philippines, killing at least 18 people with 20 injured. Read more
• 2011 — The Zhanaozen massacre occurs when violent protests by oil workers take place in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, resulting in security forces killing at least 14 and injuring 100 more. Read more
• 1997 — Dennō Senshi Porygon: Over 600 kids in Japan suffer photosensitive epileptic seizures after watching an episode of the Pokémon anime. Read more
• 1992 — Deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began deporting hundreds of Palestinians suspected to be members of Hamas across the Lebanese border. Read more
• 1989 — Romanian Revolution: Protests break out in Timișoara, Romania, in response to an attempt by the government to evict dissident Hungarian pastor László Tőkés. Read more
• 1986 — The Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR. Read more
• 1973 — Aeroflot Flight 2022 crashes in the Soviet Union's (now Russia) Volokolamsky District, killing all 51 aboard, including four Lithuanian doctors. Read more
• 1972 — The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is enacted. Read more
• 1971 — Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The surrender of the Pakistan Army brings an end to both conflicts. This is commemorated annually as Victory Day in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India respectively. Read more
• 1971 — The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain's independence, which is commemorated annually as Bahrain's National Day. Read more
• 1968 — Second Vatican Council: Official revocation of the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain. Read more
• 1960 — A United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground. Read more
• 1951 — A Miami Airlines Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in Elizabeth, New Jersey, killing all 58 aboard including dancer Doris Ruby. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: The Battle of the Bulge begins with the surprise offensive of three German armies through the Ardennes forest. Read more
• 1942 — The Holocaust: Schutzstaffel chief Heinrich Himmler orders that Roma candidates for extermination be deported to Auschwitz. Read more
• 1920 — The Haiyuan earthquake of 8.5Mw rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: Admiral Franz von Hipper commands a raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. Read more
• 1912 — First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy defeats the Ottoman Navy at the Battle of Elli. Read more
• 1905 — In rugby union, the "Match of the Century" is played between Wales and New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park. Read more
• 1883 — Tonkin Campaign: French forces capture the Sơn Tây citadel. Read more
• 1882 — Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match. Read more
• 1880 — Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire. Read more
• 1864 — American Civil War: The Battle of Nashville ends as the Union Army of the Cumberland under General George H. Thomas routs and destroys the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood, ending its effectiveness as a combat unit. Read more
• 1863 — American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints General Joseph E. Johnston to replace General Braxton Bragg as commander of the Army of Tennessee. Read more
• 1850 — The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand. Read more
• 1838 — Great Trek: Battle of Blood River: Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius and Sarel Cilliers defeat Zulu impis, led by Dambuza (Nzobo) and Ndlela kaSompisi in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Read more
• 1826 — Benjamin W. Edwards rides into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, Texas, and declares himself ruler of the Republic of Fredonia. Read more
• 1811 — The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri. Read more
• 1782 — British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah. Read more
• 1777 — Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation. Read more
• 1773 — American Revolution: Boston Tea Party: Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dump hundreds of crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act. Read more
• 1761 — Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, the Russians under Pyotr Rumyantsev take the Prussian fortress of Kołobrzeg. Read more
• 1707 — The most recent eruption of Mount Fuji. Read more
• 1689 — Convention Parliament: The Declaration of Right is embodied in the Bill of Rights. Read more
• 1653 — English Interregnum: The Protectorate: Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. Read more
• 1598 — Seven-Year War: Battle of Noryang: The final battle of the Seven-Year War is fought between the China and the Korean allied forces and Japanese navies, resulting in a decisive allied forces victory. Read more
• 1575 — An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.5Mw strikes Valdivia, Chile. Read more
• 1497 — Vasco da Gama passes the Great Fish River at the southern tip of Africa, where Bartolomeu Dias had previously turned back to Portugal. Read more
• 1431 — Hundred Years' War: Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris. Read more
• 755 — An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Yanjing, initiating the An Lushan Rebellion during the Tang dynasty of China. Read more
• 714 — Pepin of Herstal, mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille (modern Belgium). He is succeeded by his infant grandson Theudoald, while his widow Plectrude holds actual power in the Frankish Kingdom. Read more
• 533 — The Digest, the great collection of all Roman jurists' law, is issued together with a new official law textbook for legal schools, The Institutes. Read more

Born on December 16

• 2001 — Kai Cenat, American streamer Read more
• 1998 — Mira Antonitsch, Austrian tennis player Read more
• 1998 — Zhou Jieqiong, Chinese singer and actress Read more
• 1997 — Zara Larsson, Swedish singer and songwriter Read more
• 1996 — Wilfred Ndidi, Nigerian footballer Read more
• 1996 — Sergio Reguilón, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1996 — Henry Thornton, Australian cricketer Read more
• 1994 — Nigel Hayes, American basketball player Read more
• 1994 — Nicola Murru, Italian footballer Read more
• 1994 — José Rodríguez, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1993 — Jyoti Amge, Indian actress Read more
• 1993 — Stephan James, Canadian actor Read more
• 1992 — Anamul Haque, Bangladeshi cricketer Read more
• 1992 — Tom Rogic, Australian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Craig Goodwin, Australian footballer Read more
• 1991 — David Johnson, American football player Read more
• 1988 — Mats Hummels, German footballer Read more
• 1988 — Anna Popplewell, English actress Read more
• 1988 — Alexey Shved, Russian basketball player Read more
• 1986 — Alcides Escobar, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
• 1986 — Pärt Uusberg, Estonian actor, composer, and conductor. Read more
• 1985 — Stanislav Manolev, Bulgarian footballer Read more
• 1985 — James Nash, English race car driver Read more
• 1985 — Amanda Setton, American actress Read more
• 1984 — Theo James, English actor Read more
• 1983 — Kelenna Azubuike, Nigerian-American basketball player Read more
• 1983 — Frankie Ballard, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1983 — Joey Dorsey, American basketball player Read more
• 1982 — Antrel Rolle, American football player Read more
• 1982 — Anna Sedokova, Ukrainian singer, actress and television presenter Read more
• 1982 — Stanislav Šesták, Slovak footballer Read more
• 1981 — Krysten Ritter, American actress, musician, and model Read more
• 1981 — Reanna Solomon, Nauruan weightlifter (died 2022) Read more
• 1981 — Gareth Williams, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1980 — Danish Kaneria, Pakistani cricketer Read more
• 1979 — Trevor Immelman, South African golfer Read more
• 1979 — Brodie Lee, American wrestler (died 2020) Read more
• 1979 — Daniel Narcisse, French handball player Read more
• 1979 — Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer-songwriter Read more
• 1979 — Jessie Ward, American wrestler and producer Read more

Died on December 16

• 2025 — Lusanda Dumke, South African professional rugby union player who played as a flanker (born 1996) Read more
• 2024 — Dick Van Arsdale, American basketball player (born 1943) Read more
• 2024 — Tulsi Gowda, Indian environmentalist (born 1937/1938) Read more
• 2023 — Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait (born 1937) Read more
• 2017 — Keely Smith, American singer and actress (born 1928) Read more
• 2015 — Peter Dickinson, Rhodesian-English author and poet (born 1927) Read more
• 2015 — Lizmark, Mexican wrestler (born 1950) Read more
• 2015 — George Earl Ortman, American painter and sculptor (born 1926) Read more
• 2014 — Martin Brasier, English paleontologist, biologist, and academic (born 1947) Read more
• 2014 — Tim Cochran, American mathematician and academic (born 1955) Read more
• 2014 — Tahira Qazi, Pakistani educationist and principal of Army Public School Peshawar who was killed in the Peshawar school attack. Read more
• 2013 — James Flint, English commander (born 1913) Read more
• 2013 — Ray Price, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1926) Read more
• 2013 — Marta Russell, American journalist, author, and activist (born 1951) Read more
• 2012 — Elwood V. Jensen, American biologist and academic (born 1920) Read more
• 2012 — Jake Adam York, American poet and academic (born 1972) Read more
• 2011 — Robert Easton, American actor and screenwriter (born 1930) Read more
• 2011 — Nicol Williamson, Scottish actor (born 1938) Read more
• 2010 — Melvin E. Biddle, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1923) Read more
• 2010 — Ayinde Barrister, Nigerian fuji musician (born 1948) Read more
• 2009 — Roy E. Disney, American businessman (born 1930) Read more
• 2009 — Yegor Gaidar, Russian economist and politician, Prime Minister of Russia (born 1956) Read more
• 2009 — Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, South African physician and politician, 22nd South African Minister of Health (born 1940) Read more
• 2007 — Dan Fogelberg, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1951) Read more
• 2006 — Don Jardine, Canadian wrestler and trainer (born 1940) Read more
• 2006 — Taliep Petersen, South African singer-songwriter and director (born 1950) Read more
• 2006 — Pnina Salzman, Israeli pianist and educator (born 1922) Read more
• 2006 — Stanford J. Shaw, American historian and academic (born 1930) Read more
• 2005 — Kenneth Bulmer, English author (born 1921) Read more
• 2005 — Ed Hansen, American director and screenwriter (born 1937) Read more
• 2005 — John Spencer, American actor (born 1946) Read more
• 2004 — Ted Abernathy, American baseball player (born 1933) Read more
• 2004 — Deyda Hydara, Gambian journalist, co-founded The Point (born 1946) Read more
• 2004 — Agnes Martin, American painter and educator (born 1912) Read more
• 2003 — Robert Stanfield, Canadian economist, lawyer, and politician, 17th Premier of Nova Scotia (born 1914) Read more
• 2003 — Gary Stewart, American singer-songwriter (born 1945) Read more
• 2001 — Stuart Adamson, English-Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1958) Read more
• 2001 — Stefan Heym, German-American soldier and author (born 1913) Read more
• 1998 — William Gaddis, American author and academic (born 1922) Read more
• 1997 — Lillian Disney, American illustrator and philanthropist (born 1899) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Adelaide of Italy; Christian feast day: Haggai; Christian feast day: Blessed Marianna Fontanella; Christian feast day: Blessed Philip Siphong Onphitak; Christian feast day: Ralph Adams Cram, Richard Upjohn and John La Farge (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day: December 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of Reconciliation, formerly celebrated as Day of the Vow by the Afrikaners (South Africa); Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union in 1991.; National Day, celebrates the withdrawal of United Kingdom from Bahrain, making Bahrain an independent emirate in 1971.; International Day of the Belt and Road Initiative; National Sports Day (Thailand); The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad): The first day of Las Posadas (Mexico, Latin America); The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad): The first day of the Simbang Gabi novena of masses (Philippines); Victory Day observances, celebration of the Indo-Bangla allied victory over Pakistan armed forces and the Liberation of Bangladesh. (Bangladesh and India[a])

More from the Almanac

Sunrise & SunsetStar TransitMoon & Planting CalendarsAncient Measures