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On This Day in History — February 16
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Highlights of February 16
- 2013 — At least 91 people were killed and 190 others injured after a bomb hidden in a water tank exploded at a market in Hazara Town, Pakistan. Read more
- 1998 — While on approach to Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, China Airlines Flight 676 crashed due to an over-reliance of the autopilot, which resulted in the deaths of 202 people. Read more
- 1996 — Eleven people died in a train collision in Silver Spring, Maryland, leading to the creation of comprehensive U.S. federal rules for the design of passenger cars. Read more
- 1985 — The Lebanese Shia political and paramilitary organization Hezbollah released a manifesto describing its ideology and goals. Read more
- 1983 — The Ash Wednesday bushfires burned over half a million acres (over 2,000 km2) each in both South Australia and Victoria, killing 75 people and injuring 2,676 others. Read more
- 1961 — The DuSable Museum, the first museum dedicated to the study and conservation of African American history, culture, and art, was chartered. Read more
- 1959 — Fidel Castro was sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba, beginning his decades-long rule over the country. Read more
- 1936 — The Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing parties, came to power in the Spanish general election, a factor in the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War five months later. Read more
- 1922 — A landslide in Byblos revealed a sarcophagus in an underground tomb that was later discovered to be part of a large Bronze Age necropolis. Read more
- 1918 — The Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence (pictured), proclaiming the restoration of an independent Lithuania. Read more
- 1900 — The Southern Cross Expedition led by Carsten Borchgrevink (pictured) achieved a new Farthest South of 78° 50'S, making the first landing at the Great Ice Barrier. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: A Union victory at the Battle of Fort Donelson gave General Ulysses S. Grant the nickname "Unconditional Surrender". Read more
- 1859 — The French government passed a law setting the musical note A4 to a frequency of 435 hertz, in the first attempt to standardize concert pitch. Read more
- 1804 — First Barbary War: Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a U.S. Navy raid to destroy the captured USS Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli (depicted), denying her use to the Barbary States. Read more
- 1270 — Livonian Crusade: In the Battle of Karuse, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania achieved a decisive victory over the Livonian Order on the frozen surface of the Baltic Sea. Read more
- 1249 — King Louis IX dispatched André de Longjumeau as the French ambassador to the Mongol Empire. Read more
Events
- 2021 — Five thousand people gathered in the town of Kherrata, Bejaia Province to mark the second anniversary of the Hirak protest movement. Demonstrations had been suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria. Read more
- 2013 — A bomb blast at a market in Hazara Town, Quetta, Pakistan kills more than 80 people and injures 190 others. Read more
- 2006 — The last Mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army. Read more
- 2005 — The Kyoto Protocol comes into force, following its ratification by Russia. Read more
- 2005 — The National Hockey League cancels the entire 2004–05 regular season and playoffs. Read more
- 2000 — Emery Worldwide Airlines Flight 17 crashes near Sacramento Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova, California, killing all three aboard. Read more
- 1998 — China Airlines Flight 676 crashes into a road and residential area near Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taiwan, killing all 196 aboard and six more on the ground. Read more
- 1996 — A Chicago-bound Amtrak train, the Capitol Limited, collides with a MARC commuter train bound for Washington, D.C., killing 11 people. Read more
- 1991 — Nicaraguan Contras leader Enrique Bermúdez is assassinated in Managua. Read more
- 1986 — The Soviet liner MS Mikhail Lermontov runs aground in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Read more
- 1986 — China Airlines Flight 2265 crashes into the Pacific Ocean near Penghu Airport in Taiwan, killing all 13 aboard. Read more
- 1985 — Hezbollah is founded. Read more
- 1984 — Iran launches Operation Dawn 5, a major offensive during the Iran–Iraq War targeting the Basra–Baghdad highway, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. Read more
- 1983 — The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia kill 75. Read more
- 1978 — The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago). Read more
- 1968 — In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service. Read more
- 1968 — Civil Air Transport Flight 010 crashes near Shongshan Airport in Taiwan, killing 21 of the 63 people on board and one more on the ground. Read more
- 1962 — The Great Sheffield Gale impacts the United Kingdom, killing nine people; the city of Sheffield is devastated, with 150,000 homes damaged. Read more
- 1962 — Flooding in the coastal areas of West Germany kills 315 and destroys the homes of about 60,000 people. Read more
- 1961 — Explorer program: Explorer 9 (S-56a) is launched. Read more
- 1960 — The U.S. Navy submarine USS Triton begins Operation Sandblast, setting sail from New London, Connecticut, to begin the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe. Read more
- 1959 — Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: American forces land on Corregidor Island in the Philippines. Read more
- 1945 — The Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945, the first anti-discrimination law in the United States, was signed into law. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: In the early phases of the Third Battle of Kharkov, Red Army troops re-enter the city. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: In Athens, the Greek People's Liberation Army is established Read more
- 1942 — World War II: Attack on Aruba, first World War II German shots fired on a land based object in the Americas. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: Altmark incident: The German tanker Altmark is boarded by sailors from the British destroyer HMS Cossack. A total of 299 British prisoners are freed. Read more
- 1937 — Wallace H. Carothers receives a United States patent for nylon. Read more
- 1936 — The Popular Front wins the 1936 Spanish general election. Read more
- 1934 — The Austrian Civil War ends with the defeat of the Social Democrats and the Republikanischer Schutzbund. Read more
- 1934 — The Commission of Government is officially sworn in; ending 79 years of responsible government in Newfoundland. Read more
- 1930 — The Romanian Football Federation joins FIFA. Read more
- 1923 — Howard Carter unseals the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Read more
- 1918 — The Council of Lithuania unanimously adopts the Act of Independence, declaring Lithuania an independent state. Read more
- 1900 — The Southern Cross expedition led by Carsten Borchgrevink achieves a new Farthest South of 78° 50'S, making the first landing at the Great Ice Barrier. Read more
- 1899 — Iceland's first football club, Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, is founded. Read more
- 1881 — The Canadian Pacific Railway is incorporated by Act of Parliament at Ottawa (44th Vic., c.1). Read more
- 1866 — Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington becomes British Secretary of State for War. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Donelson, Tennessee. Read more
- 1804 — First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia. Read more
- 1796 — Colombo in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) falls to the British, completing their invasion of Ceylon. Read more
- 1742 — Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, becomes British Prime Minister. Read more
- 1699 — First Leopoldine Diploma is issued by the Holy Roman Emperor, recognizing the Greek Catholic clergy enjoyed the same privileges as Roman Catholic priests in the Principality of Transylvania. Read more
- 1646 — Battle of Torrington, Devon: The last major battle of the First English Civil War. Read more
- 1630 — Dutch forces led by Hendrick Lonck capture Olinda in what was to become part of Dutch Brazil. Read more
- 1270 — The Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeats the Livonian Order in the Battle of Karuse. Read more
- 1249 — Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khagan of the Mongol Empire. Read more
Born on February 16
- 2001 — Yuki Naito, Japanese tennis player Read more
- 2000 — Koffee, Jamaican singer, songwriter and rapper Read more
- 2000 — Coby White, American basketball player Read more
- 2000 — Carlos Yulo, Filipino artistic gymnast Read more
- 1999 — Ignatius Ganago, Cameroonian footballer Read more
- 1999 — Marie Ulven Ringheim, Norwegian singer, songwriter and music producer Read more
- 1998 — An Hyejin, South Korean volleyball player Read more
- 1998 — Kim Suji, South Korean diver Read more
- 1997 — Jordan Greenway, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1995 — Denzel Curry, American rapper Read more
- 1995 — Katy Dunne, English tennis player Read more
- 1995 — Carina Witthöft, German tennis player Read more
- 1994 — Annika Beck, German tennis player Read more
- 1994 — Federico Bernardeschi, Italian footballer Read more
- 1994 — Ava Max, American singer and songwriter Read more
- 1992 — Nicolai Boilesen, Danish footballer Read more
- 1992 — Zsófia Susányi, Hungarian tennis player Read more
- 1991 — Sergio Canales, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1990 — The Weeknd, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Read more
- 1989 — Elizabeth Olsen, American actress Read more
- 1988 — Diego Capel, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1988 — Denílson, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Korbinian Holzer, German ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Zhang Jike, Chinese table tennis player Read more
- 1988 — Andrea Ranocchia, Italian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Kim Soo-hyun, South Korean actor and singer Read more
- 1987 — Luc Bourdon, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2008) Read more
- 1987 — Theresa Goh, Singaporean swimmer Read more
- 1987 — Tommy Milone, American baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Jon Ossoff, American politician and filmmaker Read more
- 1987 — Hasheem Thabeet, Tanzanian basketball player Read more
- 1986 — Diego Godín, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1986 — Shawne Williams, American basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Simon Francis, English footballer Read more
- 1985 — Stacy Lewis, American golfer Read more
- 1985 — Ron Vlaar, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1984 — Sofia Arvidsson, Swedish tennis player Read more
- 1984 — Oussama Mellouli, Tunisian swimmer Read more
- 1983 — Agyness Deyn, English model, actress, and singer Read more
- 1983 — Tuomo Ruutu, Finnish ice hockey player and coach Read more
Died on February 16
- 2026 — Billy Steinberg, American songwriter (born 1950) Read more
- 2026 — Frederick Wiseman, American filmmaker (born 1930) Read more
- 2025 — Viktor Antonov, Bulgarian artist (born 1972) Read more
- 2024 — Alexei Navalny, Russian activist (born 1976) Read more
- 2021 — Gustavo Noboa, Ecuadorian politician, 42nd President of Ecuador (born 1937) Read more
- 2019 — Bruno Ganz, Swiss actor (born 1941) Read more
- 2016 — Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egyptian politician and diplomat, 6th Secretary-General of the United Nations (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Lasse Braun, Algerian-Italian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1936) Read more
- 2015 — Lesley Gore, American singer-songwriter (born 1946) Read more
- 2015 — R. R. Patil, Indian lawyer and politician, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra (born 1957) Read more
- 2015 — Lorena Rojas, Mexican actress and singer (born 1971) Read more
- 2014 — Ken Farragut, American football player (born 1928) Read more
- 2014 — Kralle Krawinkel, German guitarist (born 1947) Read more
- 2014 — Michael Shea, American author (born 1946) Read more
- 2013 — Colin Edwards, Guyanese footballer (born 1991) Read more
- 2013 — Grigory Pomerants, Russian philosopher and author (born 1918) Read more
- 2013 — Tony Sheridan, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1940) Read more
- 2012 — Gary Carter, American baseball player and coach (born 1954) Read more
- 2012 — Elyse Knox, American model, actress, and fashion designer (born 1917) Read more
- 2012 — John Macionis, American swimmer and lieutenant (born 1916) Read more
- 2012 — Anthony Shadid, American journalist (born 1968) Read more
- 2011 — Len Lesser, American actor (born 1922) Read more
- 2011 — Justinas Marcinkevičius, Lithuanian poet and playwright (born 1930) Read more
- 2009 — Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, South Korean cardinal (born 1921) Read more
- 2006 — Johnny Grunge, American wrestler (born 1966) Read more
- 2006 — Ernie Stautner, German-American football player and coach (born 1925) Read more
- 2004 — Doris Troy, American singer-songwriter (born 1937) Read more
- 2003 — Rusty Magee, American actor and composer (born 1955) Read more
- 2002 — Walter Winterbottom, English footballer and manager (born 1913) Read more
- 2001 — Howard W. Koch, American director and producer (born 1916) Read more
- 2001 — William Masters, American gynecologist and sexologist (born 1915) Read more
- 2000 — Marceline Day, American actress (born 1908) Read more
- 2000 — Lila Kedrova, Russian-French actress and singer Read more
- 2000 — Karsten Solheim, Norwegian-American businessman, founded PING (born 1911) Read more
- 1998 — Mary Amdur, American toxicologist and public health researcher (born 1908) Read more
- 1998 — Sheu Yuan-dong, Taiwanese politician (born 1927) Read more
- 1997 — Chien-Shiung Wu, Chinese-American physicist and academic (born 1912) Read more
- 1996 — Roberto Aizenberg, Argentinian painter and sculptor (born 1922) Read more
- 1996 — Roger Bowen, American actor and author (born 1932) Read more
- 1996 — Pat Brown, American lawyer and politician, 32nd Governor of California (born 1905) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Abda of Edessa; Christian feast day:
Elias and companions; Christian feast day:
Juliana of Nicomedia (Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
Onesimus; Christian feast day:
Charles Todd Quintard (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day:
February 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of the Shining Star (Kim Jong Il's birthday) (North Korea); Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day, celebrate the independence of Lithuania from Russia and Germany in 1918 (Lithuania); Elizabeth Peratrovich Day (Alaska)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “February 16”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.