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On This Day in History — November 16
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Highlights of November 16
- 2020 — The El Dorado Fire in California, United States, was extinguished after 71 days, having destroyed 20 structures and killed one firefighter. Read more
- 2002 — The first case of SARS, a zoonotic respiratory coronavirus disease, was recorded in Guangdong, China. Read more
- 1997 — Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, released on ostensibly medical grounds after spending eighteen years in prison, was deported to the United States. Read more
- 1992 — In Suffolk, England, a local man found the largest hoard of Roman silver and gold in Britain (sample pictured), including the largest collection of 4th- and 5th-century gold and silver coins ever discovered within the former Roman Empire. Read more
- 1981 — About 30 million people watched the fictional couple Luke Spencer and Laura Webber wed on the television show General Hospital in the highest-rated hour in American soap opera history. Read more
- 1973 — U.S. president Richard Nixon signed an act authorizing the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to transport oil from the Beaufort Sea to the Gulf of Alaska. Read more
- 1967 — Aeroflot Flight 2230 crashed after takeoff from Koltsovo Airport, Russia, killing all 107 people aboard. Read more
- 1959 — The Sound of Music, a musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein based on The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Operation Queen commenced with one of the heaviest Allied tactical bombings of the war, attacking German targets in the Rur valley. Read more
- 1938 — Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann first synthesized the psychedelic drug LSD in Basel, Switzerland. Read more
- 1914 — World War I: Austro-Hungarian forces launched an assault against Serbian defensive positions at the Kolubara river, beginning the Battle of Kolubara. Read more
- 1885 — After a five-day trial following the North-West Rebellion, Louis Riel, a Canadian Métis leader and "Father of Manitoba", was hanged for high treason. Read more
- 1776 — American Revolutionary War: Fort Washington on Manhattan was captured from the Patriots by British and Hessian units. Read more
- 1776 — American Revolutionary War: A Dutch fort on Sint Eustatius fired The First Salute to an American brig (pictured), marking the first international recognition of the American flag. Read more
- 1632 — King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was killed at the Battle of Lützen during the Thirty Years' War. Read more
- 1532 — Spanish conquest of Peru: Conquistador Francisco Pizarro orchestrated a surprise attack in Cajamarca, capturing the Inca emperor, Atahualpa. Read more
- 1476 — With the help of Stephen III and Stephen Báthory, Vlad the Impaler ousted Basarab the Old and became the ruler of Wallachia for the third time. Read more
- 534 — The second edition of the Code of Justinian, a codification of Roman law by Byzantine emperor Justinian I (pictured), was published. Read more
Events
- 2022 — Artemis Program: NASA launches Artemis 1 on the first flight of the Space Launch System, the start of the program's future missions to the moon. Read more
- 2009 — Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-129 to the International Space Station. Read more
- 2005 — Following a 31-year wait, Australia defeats Uruguay in a penalty shootout to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Read more
- 2004 — Half-Life 2 is released, a game winning 39 Game of the Year awards and being cited as one of the best games ever made. Read more
- 2002 — The first cases of the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak are traced to Foshan, Guangdong Province, China. Read more
- 1997 — After nearly 18 years of incarceration, China releases Wei Jingsheng, a pro-democracy dissident, from jail for medical reasons. Read more
- 1992 — The Hoxne Hoard is discovered by metal detectorist Eric Lawes in Hoxne, Suffolk. Read more
- 1990 — Pop group Milli Vanilli are stripped of their Grammy Award because the duo did not sing at all on the Girl You Know It's True album. Session musicians had provided all the vocals. Read more
- 1989 — El Salvadoran army troops kill six Jesuit priests and two others at Jose Simeon Canas University. Read more
- 1988 — The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic declares that Estonia is "sovereign" but stops short of declaring independence. Read more
- 1988 — In the first open election in more than a decade, voters in Pakistan elect populist candidate Benazir Bhutto to be Prime Minister of Pakistan. Read more
- 1981 — Aeroflot Flight 3603 crashes during landing at Norilsk Airport, killing 99. Read more
- 1979 — The first line of Bucharest Metro (Line M1) is opened from Timpuri Noi to Semănătoarea in Bucharest, Romania. Read more
- 1974 — The Arecibo message is broadcast from Puerto Rico. Read more
- 1973 — Skylab program: NASA launches Skylab 4 with a crew of three astronauts from Cape Canaveral, Florida for an 84-day mission. Read more
- 1973 — U.S. president Richard Nixon signs the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law, authorizing the construction of the Alaska Pipeline. Read more
- 1967 — Aeroflot Flight 2230 crashes near Koltsovo Airport, killing 107. Read more
- 1966 — The Temptations release their Greatest Hits album, which goes on to be the Billboard Year-End R&B album of 1967. Read more
- 1965 — Venera program: The Soviet Union launches the Venera 3 space probe toward Venus, which will be the first spacecraft to reach the surface of another planet. Read more
- 1959 — National Airlines Flight 967 explodes in mid-air over the Gulf of Mexico, killing all 42 aboard. Read more
- 1959 — Aeroflot Flight 315 crashes on approach to Lviv Airport, killing all 40 people on board. Read more
- 1945 — UNESCO is founded. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: In support of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, the town of Düren is destroyed by Allied aircraft. Read more
- 1944 — The Jussi Awards, the Finnish film award ceremony, is held for the first time at Restaurant Adlon in Helsinki. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: In response to the leveling of Coventry by the German Luftwaffe two days before, the Royal Air Force bombs Hamburg. Read more
- 1940 — The Holocaust: In occupied Poland, the Nazis close off the Warsaw Ghetto from the outside world. Read more
- 1940 — New York City's "Mad Bomber" George Metesky places his first bomb at a Manhattan office building used by Consolidated Edison. Read more
- 1938 — LSD is first synthesized by Albert Hofmann from ergotamine at the Sandoz Laboratories in Basel. Read more
- 1933 — The United States and the Soviet Union establish formal diplomatic relations. Read more
- 1920 — Qantas, Australia's national airline, is founded as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. Read more
- 1914 — The Federal Reserve Bank of the United States officially opens. Read more
- 1907 — Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory join to form Oklahoma, which is admitted as the 46th U.S. state. Read more
- 1904 — English engineer John Ambrose Fleming receives a patent for the thermionic valve (vacuum tube). Read more
- 1885 — Canadian rebel leader of the Métis and "Father of Manitoba" Louis Riel is executed for treason. Read more
- 1871 — The National Rifle Association of America receives its charter from New York State. Read more
- 1863 — American Civil War: Confederate troops under General James Longstreet unsuccessfully attack Union forces in the Battle of Campbell's Station, allowing General Ambrose Burnside to secure and fortify Knoxville, Tennessee. Read more
- 1860 — Fisgard Lighthouse, built in the Colony of Vancouver Island, shines its first light, becoming the first permanent lighthouse in present-day British Columbia Read more
- 1857 — Second relief of Lucknow: Twenty-four Victoria Crosses are awarded, the most in a single day. Read more
- 1855 — David Livingstone becomes the first European to see the Victoria Falls in what is now Zambia-Zimbabwe. Read more
- 1849 — A Russian court sentences writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky to death for anti-government activities linked to a radical intellectual group; his sentence is later commuted to hard labor. Read more
- 1828 — Greek War of Independence: The London Protocol entails the creation of an autonomous Greek state under Ottoman suzerainty, encompassing the Morea and the Cyclades. Read more
- 1822 — American Old West: Missouri trader William Becknell arrives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, over a route that became known as the Santa Fe Trail. Read more
- 1805 — Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Schöngrabern: Russian forces under Pyotr Bagration delay the pursuit by French troops under Joachim Murat. Read more
- 1797 — The Prussian heir apparent, Frederick William, becomes King of Prussia as Frederick William III. Read more
- 1793 — French Revolution: Ninety dissident Roman Catholic priests are executed by drowning at Nantes. Read more
- 1776 — American Revolutionary War: British and Hessian units capture Fort Washington from the Patriots. Read more
- 1632 — King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was killed at the Battle of Lützen during the Thirty Years' War. Read more
- 1532 — Francisco Pizarro and his men capture Inca Emperor Atahualpa at the Battle of Cajamarca. Read more
- 1491 — An auto-da-fé, held in the Brasero de la Dehesa outside of Ávila, concludes the case of the Holy Child of La Guardia with the public execution of several Jewish and converso suspects. Read more
- 1272 — While travelling during the Ninth Crusade, Prince Edward becomes King of England upon Henry III of England's death, but he will not return to England for nearly two years to assume the throne. Read more
- 951 — Emperor Li Jing sends a Southern Tang expeditionary force of 10,000 men under Bian Hao to conquer Chu. Li Jing removes the ruling family to his own capital in Nanjing, ending the Chu Kingdom. Read more
Born on November 16
- 2006 — Mason Ramsey, American singer Read more
- 2000 — Josh Green, Australian basketball player Read more
- 1999 — Bol Bol, South Sudanese-American basketball player Read more
- 1999 — Mats Wieffer, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1997 — Bruno Guimarães, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1996 — Ivan Baran, Croatian writer Read more
- 1996 — Boulaye Dia, Senegalese footballer Read more
- 1996 — Trinovi Khairani, Indonesian politician Read more
- 1995 — André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Cameroonian footballer Read more
- 1994 — Yoshiki Yamamoto, Japanese footballer Read more
- 1993 — C. J. Beathard, American football player Read more
- 1993 — Nélson Semedo, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1993 — Denzel Valentine, American basketball player Read more
- 1992 — George Akpabio, Nigerian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Matthew Allwood, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1992 — Marcelo Brozović, Croatian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Shane Prince, American-Belarusian ice hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Nemanja Gudelj, Serbian footballer Read more
- 1991 — Tomomi Kasai, Japanese actress and singer Read more
- 1990 — Arjo Atayde, Filipino actor Read more
- 1990 — Dénes Dibusz, Hungarian football player Read more
- 1989 — Iamsu!, American rapper and producer Read more
- 1987 — Eitan Tibi, Israeli footballer Read more
- 1987 — Jordan Walden, American baseball player Read more
- 1986 — Omar Mateen, Islamic terrorist, perpetrator of the Orlando nightclub shooting (died 2016) Read more
- 1986 — Maxime Médard, French rugby player Read more
- 1985 — Aditya Roy Kapur, Indian actor Read more
- 1985 — Sanna Marin, Finnish politician, former Prime Minister of Finland Read more
- 1984 — Gemma Atkinson, English model and actress Read more
- 1984 — Mark Bunn, English footballer Read more
- 1984 — Tamawashi Ichiro, Mongolian sumo wrestler Read more
- 1983 — Kool A.D., American rapper Read more
- 1983 — Kari Lehtonen, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
- 1983 — Britta Steffen, German swimmer Read more
- 1982 — Nonito Donaire, Filipino-American boxer Read more
- 1982 — Jannie du Plessis, South African rugby player Read more
- 1982 — Ronald Pognon, French sprinter Read more
- 1982 — Amar'e Stoudemire, American-Israeli basketball player Read more
- 1981 — Fernando Cabrera, Puerto Rican baseball player Read more
- 1981 — Allison Crowe, Canadian singer-songwriter Read more
Died on November 16
- 2024 — Vladimir Shklyarov, Russian ballet dancer (born 1985) Read more
- 2022 — Robert Clary, French-American actor and author (born 1926) Read more
- 2022 — Arthur Ngirakelsong, 2nd Chief Justice of Palau (born 1941) Read more
- 2021 — Jyrki Kasvi, Finnish journalist and politician (born 1964) Read more
- 2020 — Sheila Nelson, English string teacher (born 1936) Read more
- 2019 — John Campbell Brown, Scottish astronomer (born 1947) Read more
- 2019 — Terry O'Neill, British photographer (born 1938) Read more
- 2018 — William Goldman, American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter (born 1931) Read more
- 2017 — Hiromi Tsuru, Japanese actress (born 1960) Read more
- 2017 — Ann Wedgeworth, American actress (born 1934) Read more
- 2016 — Jay Wright Forrester, American computer engineer (born 1918) Read more
- 2016 — Melvin Laird, American politician and writer (born 1922) Read more
- 2016 — Daniel Prodan, Romanian football player (born 1972) Read more
- 2015 — David Canary, American actor (born 1938) Read more
- 2015 — Michael C. Gross, American graphic designer and producer (born 1945) Read more
- 2015 — Bert Olmstead, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Alton D. Slay, American general (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Charles Champlin, American historian, author, and critic (born 1926) Read more
- 2014 — Jovan Ćirilov, Serbian poet and playwright (born 1931) Read more
- 2014 — Ian Craig, Australian cricketer (born 1935) Read more
- 2014 — Juan Joseph, American football player and coach (born 1987) Read more
- 2014 — Jadwiga Piłsudska, Polish soldier, pilot, and architect (born 1920) Read more
- 2014 — Carl Sanders, American soldier, pilot, and politician, 74th Governor of Georgia (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Robert Conley, American journalist (born 1928) Read more
- 2013 — Billy Hardwick, American bowler (born 1941) Read more
- 2013 — William McDonough Kelly, Canadian lieutenant and politician (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Tanvir Ahmad Khan, Indian-Pakistani diplomat, 19th Foreign Secretary of Pakistan (born 1932) Read more
- 2013 — Oscar Lanford, American mathematician and academic (born 1940) Read more
- 2013 — Arne Pedersen, Norwegian footballer and manager (born 1931) Read more
- 2013 — Louis D. Rubin, Jr., American author, critic, and academic (born 1923) Read more
- 2013 — Charles Waterhouse, American painter, sculptor, and illustrator (born 1924) Read more
- 2012 — John Chapman, Australian evangelist and academic (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Subhash Dutta, Bangladeshi actor and director (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Patrick Edlinger, French mountaineer (born 1960) Read more
- 2012 — Aliu Mahama, Ghanaian engineer and politician, 3rd Vice President of Ghana (born 1946) Read more
- 2012 — Eliyahu Nawi, Iraqi-Israeli lawyer, judge, and politician (born 1920) Read more
- 2012 — Bob Scott, New Zealand rugby player (born 1921) Read more
- 2010 — Britton Chance, American biologist and sailor (born 1913) Read more
- 2010 — Ronni Chasen, American publicist (born 1946) Read more
- 2010 — Wyngard Tracy, Filipino DJ and talent manager (born 1952) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Africus; Christian feast day:
Agnes of Assisi; Christian feast day:
Edmund of Abingdon; Christian feast day:
Elfric of Abingdon; Christian feast day:
Eucherius of Lyon; Christian feast day:
Gertrude the Great (Roman Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
Giuseppe Moscati; Christian feast day:
Gobrain; Christian feast day:
Hugh of Lincoln; Christian feast day:
Margaret of Scotland; Christian feast day:
Matthew the Evangelist (Eastern Christianity); Christian feast day:
Othmar; Christian feast day:
Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn; Christian feast day:
Roch Gonzalez, Juan de Castillo, and Alonso Rodriguez, SJ; Christian feast day:
November 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of Declaration of Sovereignty (Estonia); Earliest day on which Day of Repentance and Prayer can fall, while November 22 is the latest; celebrated 11 days before Advent Sunday (Lutheran, Reformed (Calvinist) and United Protestant churches, Saxony, Bavaria), and its related observance:
Volkstrauertag (Germany); Icelandic Language Day or Dagur íslenskrar tungu (Iceland); International Day for Tolerance (United Nations); Statia Day in Sint Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands); Intergenerational Fairness Day (International day of action for rights of younger and future generations)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “November 16”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.