On This Day in History — June 16

Highlights of June 16

• 2016 — Jo Cox, a British Member of Parliament, was murdered in her constituency. Read more
• 2012 — Liu Yang (pictured), a member of the Shenzhou 9 crew, became the first Chinese woman in space. Read more
• 1997 — The English rock band Radiohead released their landmark third album OK Computer in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1972 — English musician David Bowie released his breakthrough album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Read more
• 1963 — Aboard Vostok 6, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova (pictured) became the first woman in space. Read more
• 1960 — Psycho, a psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on a novel of the same name by Robert Bloch, premiered. Read more
• 1936 — A Junkers Ju 52 aircraft of Norwegian Air Lines crashed into a mountainside near Hyllestad, Norway, killing all seven people on board. Read more
• 1904 — Irish author James Joyce (pictured) began a relationship with Nora Barnacle, and subsequently used the date to set the actions for his 1922 novel Ulysses, commemorated as Bloomsday. Read more
• 1883 — In the Victoria Hall disaster, 183 children were crushed to death when they ran down the stairs to collect gifts after a variety show in Sunderland, England. Read more
• 1819 — A strong earthquake in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India, caused a local zone of uplift that dammed the Nara River, which was later named the Allah Bund ('Dam of God'). Read more
• 1755 — After a two-week siege, the French commander of Fort Beauséjour in present-day New Brunswick, Canada, surrendered to British forces, marking the end of Father Le Loutre's War. Read more
• 1632 — The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, who became the first permanent European settler of Pejepscot, Maine. Read more
• 1407 — Ming forces conquered Đại Ngu in modern-day northern Vietnam, capturing Hồ dynasty emperor Hồ Quý Ly and bringing the country under Chinese rule. Read more
• 632 — The final king of the Sasanian Empire of Iran, Yazdegerd III, ascended the throne at the age of eight. Read more

Events

• 2019 — Upwards of 2,000,000 people participate in the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, the largest in Hong Kong's history. Read more
• 2016 — Shanghai Disneyland Park, the first Disney Park in mainland China, opens to the public. Read more
• 2015 — American businessman Donald Trump announces his campaign to run for President of the United States in the upcoming election. Read more
• 2013 — A multi-day cloudburst, centered on the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, causes devastating floods and landslides, becoming the country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami. Read more
• 2012 — China successfully launches its Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, carrying three astronauts, including the first female Chinese astronaut Liu Yang, to the Tiangong-1 orbital module. Read more
• 2012 — The United States Air Force's robotic Boeing X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth after a classified 469-day orbital mission. Read more
• 2010 — Bhutan becomes the first country to institute a total ban on tobacco. Read more
• 2002 — Padre Pio is canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. Read more
• 2000 — The Secretary-General of the UN reports that Israel has complied with United Nations Security Council Resolution 425, 22 years after its issuance, and completely withdrawn from Lebanon. The Resolution does not encompass the Shebaa farms, which is claimed by Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Read more
• 1997 — Fifty people are killed in the Daïat Labguer (M'sila) massacre in Algeria. Read more
• 1995 — The Astronomy Picture of the Day website is launched. Read more
• 1989 — Revolutions of 1989: Imre Nagy, the former Hungarian prime minister, is reburied in Budapest following the collapse of Communism in Hungary. Read more
• 1981 — US President Ronald Reagan awards the Congressional Gold Medal to Ken Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran, for helping six Americans escape from Iran during the hostage crisis of 1979–81; he is the first foreign citizen bestowed the honor. Read more
• 1977 — Oracle Corporation is incorporated in Redwood Shores, California, as Software Development Laboratories (SDL), by Larry Ellison, Bob Miner and Ed Oates. Read more
• 1976 — Soweto uprising: A non-violent march by 15,000 students in Soweto, South Africa, turns into days of rioting when police open fire on the crowd. Read more
• 1972 — The largest single-site hydroelectric power project in Canada is inaugurated at Churchill Falls Generating Station. Read more
• 1963 — Soviet Space Program: Vostok 6 mission: Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space. Read more
• 1963 — In an attempt to resolve the Buddhist crisis in South Vietnam, a Joint Communique is signed between President Ngo Dinh Diem and Buddhist leaders. Read more
• 1961 — While on tour with the Kirov Ballet in Paris, Rudolf Nureyev defects from the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1958 — Imre Nagy, Pál Maléter and other leaders of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising are executed. Read more
• 1955 — In a futile effort to topple Argentine President Juan Perón, rogue aircraft pilots of the Argentine Navy drop several bombs upon an unarmed crowd demonstrating in favor of Perón in Buenos Aires, killing 364 and injuring at least 800. At the same time on the ground, some soldiers attempt to stage a coup but are suppressed by loyal forces. Read more
• 1948 — Members of the Malayan Communist Party kill three British plantation managers in Sungai Siput; in response, British Malaya declares a state of emergency. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Chief of State of Vichy France (Chef de l'État Français). Read more
• 1940 — The Soviet Union occupies Lithuania, which will eventually become the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR). Read more
• 1933 — The National Industrial Recovery Act is passed in the United States, allowing businesses to avoid antitrust prosecution if they establish voluntary wage, price, and working condition regulations on an industry-wide basis. Read more
• 1930 — Sovnarkom establishes decree time in the USSR. Read more
• 1925 — Artek, the most famous Young Pioneer camp of the Soviet Union, is established. Read more
• 1922 — General election in the Irish Free State: The pro-Treaty Sinn Féin party wins a large majority. Read more
• 1911 — IBM founded as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company in Endicott, New York. Read more
• 1904 — Eugen Schauman assassinates Nikolay Bobrikov, Governor-General of Finland. Read more
• 1904 — Irish author James Joyce begins a relationship with Nora Barnacle and subsequently uses the date to set the actions for his novel Ulysses; this date is now traditionally called "Bloomsday". Read more
• 1903 — The Ford Motor Company is incorporated. Read more
• 1903 — Roald Amundsen leaves Oslo, Norway, to commence the first east–west navigation of the Northwest Passage. Read more
• 1897 — A treaty annexing the Republic of Hawaii to the United States is signed; the Republic would not be dissolved until a year later. Read more
• 1884 — The first purpose-built roller coaster, LaMarcus Adna Thompson's "Switchback Railway", opens in New York's Coney Island amusement park. Read more
• 1883 — The Victoria Hall theatre panic in Sunderland, England, kills 183 children. Read more
• 1871 — The Universities Tests Act 1871 allows students to enter the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Durham without religious tests (except for those intending to study theology). Read more
• 1858 — Abraham Lincoln delivers his House Divided speech in Springfield, Illinois. Read more
• 1846 — The Papal conclave of 1846 elects Pope Pius IX, beginning the longest reign in the history of the papacy. Read more
• 1836 — The formation of the London Working Men's Association gives rise to the Chartist Movement. Read more
• 1824 — A meeting at Old Slaughter's coffee house in London leads to the formation of what is now the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Read more
• 1819 — A major earthquake strikes the Kutch district of western India, killing over 1,543 people and raising a 6-metre-high (20 ft), 6-kilometre-wide (3.7 mi), ridge, extending for at least 80 kilometres (50 mi), that was known as the Allah Bund ("Dam of God"). Read more
• 1815 — Battle of Ligny and Battle of Quatre Bras, two days before the Battle of Waterloo. Read more
• 1811 — Survivors of an attack the previous day by Tla-o-qui-aht on board the Pacific Fur Company's ship Tonquin intentionally detonate a powder magazine on the ship, destroying it and killing about 100 attackers. Read more
• 1795 — French Revolutionary Wars: In what became known as Cornwallis's Retreat, a British Royal Navy squadron led by Vice Admiral William Cornwallis strongly resists a much larger French Navy force and withdraws largely intact, setting up the French Navy defeat at the Battle of Groix six days later. Read more
• 1779 — American Revolutionary War: Spain declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Great Siege of Gibraltar begins. Read more
• 1760 — French and Indian War: Robert Rogers and his Rangers surprise French held Fort Sainte Thérèse on the Richelieu River near Lake Champlain. The fort is raided and burned. Read more
• 1755 — French and Indian War: The French surrender Fort Beauséjour to the British, leading to the expulsion of the Acadians. Read more
• 1746 — War of the Austrian Succession: Austria and Sardinia defeat a Franco-Spanish army at the Battle of Piacenza. Read more
• 1745 — War of the Austrian Succession: New England colonial troops under the command of William Pepperrell capture the Fortress of Louisbourg in Louisbourg, New France (Old Style date). Read more
• 1632 — The Plymouth Company grants a land patent to Thomas Purchase, the first settler of Pejepscot, Maine, settling at the site of Fort Andross. Read more
• 1487 — Battle of Stoke Field: King Henry VII of England defeats the leaders of a Yorkist rebellion in the final engagement of the Wars of the Roses. Read more
• 1407 — Ming–Hồ War: Retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son King Hồ Hán Thương of Hồ dynasty are captured by the Ming armies. Read more
• 632 — Yazdegerd III ascends the throne as king (shah) of the Persian Empire. He becomes the last ruler of the Sasanian dynasty (modern Iran). Read more

Born on June 16

• 2003 — Anna Cathcart, Canadian actress Read more
• 2002 — Sam Walker, English-Australian rugby league player Read more
• 2000 — Bianca Andreescu, Canadian tennis player Read more
• 1999 — Justin Jefferson, American football player Read more
• 1999 — Ibrahima Koné, Malian footballer Read more
• 1999 — Snail Mail, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1998 — Karman Thandi, Indian tennis player Read more
• 1995 — Euan Aitken, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1995 — Akira Ioane, New Zealand rugby Union player Read more
• 1995 — Joseph Schooling, Singaporean swimmer Read more
• 1995 — Ki Hui-hyeon, South Korean singer-songwriter and actress Read more
• 1994 — Rezar, Albanian wrestler Read more
• 1993 — Park Bo-gum, South Korean actor Read more
• 1993 — Gnash, American singer, songwriter, rapper, DJ and record producer Read more
• 1992 — Maik Brückner, German politician Read more
• 1992 — Vladimir Morozov, Russian swimmer Read more
• 1991 — Joe McElderry, English singer-songwriter Read more
• 1991 — Siya Kolisi, South African rugby player Read more
• 1991 — Matt Moylan, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1990 — John Newman, English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer Read more
• 1989 — Odion Ighalo, Nigerian footballer Read more
• 1988 — Keshia Chanté, Canadian singer Read more
• 1988 — Jermaine Gresham, American football player Read more
• 1987 — Diana DeGarmo, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
• 1987 — Per Ciljan Skjelbred, Norwegian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Ali Stroker, American actress Read more
• 1987 — Christian Tshimanga Kabeya, Belgian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Rodrigo Defendi, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Urby Emanuelson, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1986 — Fernando Muslera, Uruguayan footballer Read more
• 1984 — Rick Nash, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1984 — Dan Ryckert, American writer and entertainer Read more
• 1984 — Steven Whittaker, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1983 — Armend Dallku, Albanian footballer Read more
• 1983 — Olivia Hack, American actress Read more
• 1982 — May Andersen, Danish model and actress Read more
• 1982 — Missy Peregrym, Canadian model and actress Read more
• 1981 — Benjamin Becker, German tennis player Read more
• 1981 — Kevin Bieksa, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1981 — Alexandre Giroux, Canadian ice hockey player Read more

Died on June 16

• 2026 — Daveigh Chase, American actress (born 1990) Read more
• 2025 — Kim Woodburn, English television personality and expert cleaner (born 1942) Read more
• 2024 — Ludwig Adamovich Jr., Austrian constitutional scholar (born 1932) Read more
• 2024 — Barbara Gladstone, American art dealer and film producer (born 1934) Read more
• 2023 — Gino Mäder, Swiss cyclist (born 1997) Read more
• 2022 — Tyler Sanders, American actor (born 2004) Read more
• 2021 — Frank Bonner, American actor and television director (born 1942) Read more
• 2020 — Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., Filipino businessman and politician (born 1935) Read more
• 2017 — Helmut Kohl, German politician, Chancellor of Germany (born 1930) Read more
• 2016 — Jo Cox, English political activist and MP (born 1974) Read more
• 2015 — Charles Correa, Indian architect and urban planner (born 1930) Read more
• 2015 — Jean Vautrin, French director, screenwriter, and critic (born 1933) Read more
• 2014 — Tony Gwynn, American baseball player and coach (born 1960) Read more
• 2014 — Cándido Muatetema Rivas (born 1960), Equatoguinean politician and diplomat, Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea Read more
• 2013 — Sam Farber, American businessman, co-founded OXO (born 1924) Read more
• 2013 — Hans Hass, Austrian biologist and diver (born 1919) Read more
• 2013 — Khondakar Ashraf Hossain, Bangladesh poet and academic (born 1950) Read more
• 2013 — Norman Ian MacKenzie, English journalist and author (born 1921) Read more
• 2013 — Ottmar Walter, German footballer (born 1924) Read more
• 2012 — Nils Karlsson, Swedish skier (born 1917) Read more
• 2012 — Jorge Lankenau, Mexican banker and businessman (born 1944) Read more
• 2012 — Sławomir Petelicki, Polish general (born 1946) Read more
• 2012 — Susan Tyrrell, American actress (born 1945) Read more
• 2011 — Östen Mäkitalo, Swedish engineer and academic (born 1938) Read more
• 2010 — Marc Bazin, Haitian lawyer and politician, 49th President of Haiti (born 1932) Read more
• 2010 — Maureen Forrester, Canadian singer and academic (born 1930) Read more
• 2010 — Ronald Neame, English director, producer, cinematographer, and screenwriter (born 1911) Read more
• 2008 — Mario Rigoni Stern, Italian soldier and author (born 1921) Read more
• 2005 — Enrique Laguerre, Puerto Rican-American author and critic (born 1906) Read more
• 2004 — Thanom Kittikachorn, Thai field marshal and politician, 10th Prime Minister of Thailand (born 1911) Read more
• 2004 — Jacques Miquelon, Canadian lawyer and judge (born 1911) Read more
• 2003 — Pierre Bourgault, Canadian journalist and politician (born 1934) Read more
• 2003 — Georg Henrik von Wright, Finnish–Swedish philosopher and author (born 1916) Read more
• 1999 — Screaming Lord Sutch, English singer and activist (born 1940) Read more
• 1998 — Fred Wacker, American race car driver and engineer (born 1918) Read more
• 1996 — Mel Allen, American sportscaster and game show host (born 1913) Read more
• 1994 — Kristen Pfaff, American bass player and songwriter (born 1967) Read more
• 1993 — Lindsay Hassett, Australian cricketer and soldier (born 1913) Read more
• 1988 — Miguel Piñero, Puerto Rican-American actor and playwright (born 1946) Read more
• 1987 — Marguerite de Angeli, American author and illustrator (born 1889) Read more

Holidays & observances

Birthday of Leonard P. Howell (Rastafari); Bloomsday (Dublin, Ireland); Christian feast days: Aurelianus of Arles; Christian feast days: Aureus of Mainz (and his sister Justina); Christian feast days: Benno; Christian feast days: Cettin of Oran; Christian feast days: Curig of Llanbadarn; Christian feast days: Cyricus and Julitta; Christian feast days: Ferreolus and Ferrutio; Christian feast days: George Berkeley and Joseph Butler (Episcopal Church); Christian feast days: John Francis Regis; Christian feast days: Lutgardis; Christian feast days: Blessed Maria Katherina Scherer; Christian feast days: June 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Engineer's Day (Argentina); Father's Day (Seychelles); International Day of the African Child (Organisation of African Unity); Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikhism); Sussex Day (Sussex); Youth Day (South Africa)

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