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On This Day in History — September 16

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Highlights of September 16

2013 — A lone gunman fatally shot twelve people and injured three others at the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. Read more
2007 — Seventeen Iraqi civilians were shot and killed by Academi guards in Baghdad. Read more
2007 — One-Two-Go Airlines Flight 269 crashed after attempting a poorly executed go-around while landing in Thailand, killing 90 of the 130 people on board. Read more
1992 — The British pound (coin pictured) was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism on Black Wednesday and suffered a major devaluation. Read more
1989 — During a tour of the United States, Soviet politician Boris Yeltsin visited a grocery store in Texas that had a major impact on his views regarding the Soviet Union's economic system. Read more
1982 — A Lebanese militia under the direct command of Elie Hobeika carried out a massacre in the Palestinian refugee camp of Sabra and Shatila, killing at least 460 civilians. Read more
1979 — Eight people escaped from East Germany to West Germany in a home-made hot air balloon. Read more
1975 — The prototype of the Soviet Mikoyan MiG-31, one of the fastest combat jets in the world, made its maiden flight. Read more
1963 — Malaysia was formed as an independent nation from the Federation of Malaya, the State of Singapore, the Crown Colony of North Borneo, and the Crown Colony of Sarawak. Read more
1961 — The U.S. National Hurricane Research Project sought to weaken Hurricane Esther by seeding it with silver iodide, leading to the establishment of Project Stormfury. Read more
1961 — Typhoon Nancy (pictured), which possibly had the strongest winds ever measured in a tropical cyclone, made landfall in Muroto, Japan. Read more
1940 — Second World War: Italian forces captured the town of Sidi Barrani, but their invasion of Egypt progressed no further. Read more
1920 — A bomb in a horse-drawn wagon exploded in front of 23 Wall Street in New York City, killing 38 people and injuring several hundred others. Read more
1844 — Felix Mendelssohn completed the score of his Violin Concerto, his final concerto. Read more
1776 — American Revolutionary War: American colonists defeated British troops at the Battle of Harlem Heights on the island of Manhattan. Read more
681 — Pope Honorius I was posthumously excommunicated at the Third Council of Constantinople, with his support for monothelitism deemed to be heretical. Read more

Events

2022 — During the Let Yet Kone massacre, the Burmese military kills 13 villagers, including eight children, after attacking a school in Sagaing Region, Myanmar. Read more
2022 — The death of Mahsa Amini occurred in Tehran, Iran, sparking worldwide protests. Read more
2021 — A 6.0 Mw earthquake strikes Lu County, Sichuan, China, killing three and injuring more than 88. Read more
2021 — Inspiration4, the first private orbital crewed spaceflight, is launched from the Kennedy Space Center. Read more
2015 — A 8.3 Mw earthquake strikes the Chilean city of Illapel, killing 15 people, injuring at least 34, leaving at least six missing, and causing extensive damage. One person also dies in Argentina. Read more
2014 — The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant launches its Kobani offensive against Syrian–Kurdish forces. Read more
2013 — A gunman kills twelve people at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. Read more
2007 — One-Two-Go Airlines Flight 269 carrying 130 crew and passengers crashes in Thailand, killing 90 people. Read more
2007 — Security guards working for Blackwater Worldwide shoot and kill 17 Iraqis in Nisour Square, Baghdad. Read more
2005 — The Camorra organized crime boss Paolo Di Lauro is arrested in Naples, Italy. Read more
2004 — Hurricane Ivan makes landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane. Read more
1996 — Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-79 to dock with the Russian space station Mir. Read more
1994 — The British government lifts the broadcasting ban imposed against members of Sinn Féin and Irish paramilitary groups in 1988. Read more
1992 — The trial of the deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega ends in the United States with a 40-year sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering. Read more
1992 — Black Wednesday: The British pound is forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism by currency speculators and is forced to devalue against the German mark. Read more
1990 — The railroad between the People's Republic of China and Kazakhstan is completed at Dostyk, adding a sizable link to the concept of the Eurasian Land Bridge. Read more
1987 — The Montreal Protocol is signed to protect the ozone layer from depletion. Read more
1982 — Lebanon War: The Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon takes place. Read more
1979 — Eight people escape from East Germany to the west in a homemade hot air balloon. Read more
1979 — The Sugarhill Gang released their first single, Rapper's Delight. Read more
1978 — The 7.4 Mw Tabas earthquake affects the city of Tabas, Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). At least 15,000 people are killed. Read more
1976 — Armenian champion swimmer Shavarsh Karapetyan saves 20 people from a trolleybus that had fallen into a Yerevan reservoir. Read more
1976 — Night of the Pencils: In the city of La Plata, Argentina, a group of high-school students were kidnapped and later tortured, raped and murdered during the Argentinian military dictatorship Read more
1975 — Papua New Guinea gains independence from Australia. Read more
1975 — Cape Verde, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe join the United Nations. Read more
1975 — The first prototype of the Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptor makes its maiden flight. Read more
1970 — King Hussein of Jordan declares war against the Palestine Liberation Organization, the conflict came to be known as Black September. Read more
1966 — The Metropolitan Opera House opens at Lincoln Center in New York City with the world premiere of Samuel Barber's opera Antony and Cleopatra. Read more
1963 — Malaysia is formed from the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak. However, Singapore is soon expelled from this new country. Read more
1961 — The United States National Hurricane Research Project drops eight cylinders of silver iodide into the eyewall of Hurricane Esther. Wind speed reduces by 10%, giving rise to Project Stormfury. Read more
1961 — Typhoon Nancy, with possibly the strongest winds ever measured in a tropical cyclone, makes landfall in Osaka, Japan, killing 173 people. Read more
1961 — Pakistan establishes its Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission with Abdus Salam as its head. Read more
1959 — The first successful photocopier, the Xerox 914, is introduced in a demonstration on live television from New York City. Read more
1956 — TCN-9 Sydney is the first Australian television station to commence regular broadcasts. Read more
1955 — The military coup to unseat President Juan Perón of Argentina is launched at midnight. Read more
1955 — A Soviet Zulu-class submarine becomes the first to launch a ballistic missile. Read more
1953 — American Airlines Flight 723 crashes in Colonie, New York, killing 28 people. Read more
1945 — World War II: The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong comes to an end. Read more
1943 — World War II: The German Tenth Army reports that it can no longer contain the Allied bridgehead around Salerno. Read more
1940 — World War II: Italian troops conquer Sidi Barrani. Read more
1920 — The Wall Street bombing: A bomb in a horse wagon explodes in front of the J. P. Morgan building in New York City killing 38 and injuring 400. Read more
1914 — World War I: The Siege of Przemyśl (present-day Poland) begins. Read more
1908 — The General Motors Corporation is founded. Read more
1893 — Settlers make a land run for prime land in the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma. Read more
1880 — The Cornell Daily Sun prints its first issue in Ithaca, New York. Read more
1863 — Robert College, in Istanbul, the first American educational institution outside the United States, is founded by Christopher Robert, an American philanthropist. Read more
1822 — French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel, in a "note" read to the Academy of Sciences, reports a direct refraction experiment verifying David Brewster's hypothesis that photoelasticity (as it is now known) is stress-induced birefringence. Read more
1810 — With the Grito de Dolores, Father Miguel Hidalgo begins Mexico's fight for independence from Spain. Read more
1779 — American Revolutionary War: The Franco-American Siege of Savannah begins. Read more
1776 — American Revolutionary War: American forces win the Battle of Harlem Heights after General George Washington orders a counterattack on advancing British light infantry. Read more
1732 — In Campo Maior, Portugal, a storm hits the Armory and a violent explosion ensues, killing two-thirds of its inhabitants. Read more
1701 — James Francis Edward Stuart, sometimes called the "Old Pretender", becomes the Jacobite claimant to the thrones of England and Scotland on the death of his father, James II. Read more
1620 — Pilgrims set sail for Virginia from Plymouth, England in the Mayflower. Read more
1410 — Ferdinand of Trastámara takes Antequera from the emirate of Granada. Read more
1400 — Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers. Read more
681 — Pope Honorius I is posthumously excommunicated by the Sixth Ecumenical Council. Read more

Born on September 16

2003 — Ryan Couchman, Australian rugby league player Read more
2003 — Toby Couchman, Australian rugby league player Read more
2001 — Avishag Semberg, Israeli Olympic taekwondo bronze medalist Read more
2000 — Sam Howell, American football player Read more
2000 — Oliver Skipp, English footballer Read more
1999 — Brady Tkachuk, American ice hockey player Read more
1997 — Clint Ratkovich, American football player Read more
1997 — Anairis Quiñones, American voice actress Read more
1997 — Jackie Young, American basketball player Read more
1995 — Aaron Gordon, American basketball player Read more
1994 — Anthony Mantha, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1994 — Aleksandar Mitrović, Serbian footballer Read more
1994 — Mitchell Moses, Australian rugby league player Read more
1993 — Metro Boomin, American record producer and songwriter Read more
1993 — Sam Byram, English footballer Read more
1993 — Bryson DeChambeau, American golfer Read more
1993 — Joji, Japanese-Australian singer-songwriter Read more
1992 — Vytenis Čižauskas, Lithuanian basketball player Read more
1992 — Nick Jonas, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
1992 — Jake Roche, English singer-songwriter and actor Read more
1992 — Chase Stokes, American actor Read more
1991 — Alexandra Paul, Canadian figure skater (died 2023) Read more
1989 — Robbie Grossman, American baseball player Read more
1989 — Braden Holtby, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1989 — Salomón Rondón, Venezuelan footballer Read more
1989 — Dustin Tokarski, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1988 — Teddy Geiger, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress Read more
1987 — Merve Boluğur, Turkish actress Read more
1987 — Kyle Lafferty, Northern Irish footballer Read more
1987 — Louis Ngwat-Mahop, Cameroonian footballer Read more
1987 — Anthony Padilla, American internet personality and filmmaker Read more
1987 — Burry Stander, South African cyclist (died 2013) Read more
1987 — Travis Wall, American dancer and choreographer Read more
1986 — Gordon Beckham, American baseball player Read more
1986 — Ian Harding, American actor Read more
1986 — Kyla Pratt, American actress and singer Read more
1985 — Matt Harrison, American baseball player Read more
1985 — Max Minghella, English actor Read more
1985 — Madeline Zima, American actress Read more
1984 — Sabrina Bryan, American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress Read more

Died on September 16

2026 — Randy Pedersen, American bowler and sportscaster (born 1962) Read more
2025 — Robert Redford, American actor, producer and director (born 1936) Read more
2024 — Song Binbin, Chinese revolutionary (born 1947) Read more
2021 — Jane Powell, American actress (born 1929) Read more
2021 — Clive Sinclair, English entrepreneur and inventor (born 1940) Read more
2020 — Maxim Martsinkevich, Russian social activist and media personality (born 1984) Read more
2019 — H. S. Dillon, Indonesian politician and human rights defender (born 1945) Read more
2018 — James Burdette Thayer, American brigadier general (born 1920) Read more
2017 — Marcelo Rezende, Brazilian journalist (born 1951) Read more
2017 — Arjan Singh, Marshal of the Indian Air Force (born 1919) Read more
2016 — Tarık Akan, Turkish actor, director and activist (born 1949) Read more
2016 — Edward Albee, American director and playwright (born 1928) Read more
2016 — Gabriele Amorth, Italian priest and exorcist (born 1925) Read more
2016 — Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Italian economist and politician, 10th President of Italy and 49th Prime Minister of Italy (born 1920) Read more
2016 — W. P. Kinsella, Canadian novelist (born 1935) Read more
2016 — Gérard Louis-Dreyfus, French-born American businessman (born 1932) Read more
2016 — António Mascarenhas Monteiro, Cabo Verdean politician, 2nd President of Cape Verde (born 1944) Read more
2015 — Guy Béart, Egyptian-French singer-songwriter (born 1930) Read more
2015 — Julio Brady, Virgin Islander lawyer, judge, and politician, 5th Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (born 1942) Read more
2015 — Kurt Oppelt, Austrian figure skater and coach (born 1932) Read more
2015 — Allan Wright, English captain and pilot (born 1920) Read more
2013 — Scott Adams, American football player (born 1966) Read more
2013 — Ratiba El-Hefny, Egyptian soprano and director (born 1931) Read more
2013 — Patsy Swayze, American dancer and choreographer (born 1927) Read more
2012 — Roman Kroitor, Canadian director and producer, co-founded IMAX (born 1926) Read more
2012 — Julien J. LeBourgeois, American admiral (born 1923) Read more
2012 — Friedrich Zimmermann, German lawyer and politician, German Federal Minister of the Interior (born 1925) Read more
2011 — Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, American singer-songwriter, harmonica player, and drummer (born 1936) Read more
2011 — Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Bangladeshi politician (born 1948) Read more
2010 — George N. Parks, American educator and bandleader (born 1953) Read more
2010 — Jim Towers, English footballer (born 1933) Read more
2009 — Myles Brand, American philosopher and academic (born 1942) Read more
2009 — Ernst Märzendorfer, Austrian conductor (born 1921) Read more
2009 — Mary Travers, American singer-songwriter (born 1936) Read more
2008 — Norman Whitfield, American songwriter and producer (born 1940) Read more
2007 — Robert Jordan, American engineer and author (born 1948) Read more
2006 — Floyd Curry, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1925) Read more
2006 — Zsuzsa Körmöczy, Hungarian tennis player and coach (born 1924) Read more
2005 — Harry Freedman, Canadian horn player, composer, and educator (born 1922) Read more
2005 — Gordon Gould, American physicist and academic, invented the laser (born 1920) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Andrew Kim Taegon; Christian feast day: Curcodomus; Christian feast day: Cornelius and Cyprian (Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Edith of Wilton; Christian feast day: Euphemia; Christian feast day: John Macias; Christian feast day: Ludmila; Christian feast day: Ninian; Christian feast day: Pope Cornelius; Christian feast day: Vitalis of Savigny; Christian feast day: September 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics).; Cry of Dolores, celebrates the declaration of independence of Mexico from Spain in 1810. See Fiestas Patrias; Independence Day (Papua New Guinea), celebrates the independence of Papua New Guinea from Australia in 1975.; International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer; Malaysian Armed Forces Day (Malaysia); Malaysia Day (Malaysia); Martyrs' Day (Libya); National Heroes Day (Saint Kitts and Nevis)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “September 16”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.