✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 228th day of the year

August 16

A look at August 16 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Madonna and Hongxi Emperor, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♌ZodiacLeo ◈BirthstonePeridot ❀Birth flowerGladiolus
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1964

    Vietnam War

    Vietnam War: A coup d'état replaces Dương Văn Minh with General Nguyễn Khánh as President of South Vietnam. A new constitution is established with aid from the U.S. Embassy.

    1955–1975 war in Southeast
  2. 1960

    Cyprus

    Cyprus gains its independence from the United Kingdom.

    Island country in the
  3. 1946

    Direct Action Day

    Mass riots in Kolkata begin; more than 4,000 people would be killed in 72 hours.

    1946 sectarian violence in
  4. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: US Navy L-class blimp L-8 drifts in from the Pacific and eventually crashes in Daly City, California. The two-man crew cannot be found.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  5. 1920

    Ray Chapman

    Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians is hit on the head by a fastball thrown by Carl Mays of the New York Yankees. Next day, Chapman will become the second player to die from injuries sustained in a Major League Baseball game.

    American baseball player (1891–1920)
  6. 1891

    San Sebastian Church (Manila)

    The Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila, the first all-steel church in Asia, is officially inaugurated and blessed.

    Roman Catholic church in
  7. 1876

    Richard Wagner

    Richard Wagner's Siegfried, the penultimate opera in his Ring cycle, is premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus.

    German composer (1813–1883)
  8. 1793

    French Revolution

    French Revolution: A levée en masse is decreed by the National Convention.

    1789–1799 sociopolitical change in
  9. 1777

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: The Americans led by General John Stark rout British and Brunswick troops under Friedrich Baum at the Battle of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  10. -1

    Wang Mang

    Wang Mang consolidates his power in China and is declared marshal of state. Emperor Ai of Han, who died the previous day, had no heirs.

    Emperor of the Xin
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Famous birthday twins

Born on August 16

Madonna

b. 1958

American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and director

Hongxi Emperor

b. 1378

of China

Zachary Taylor

b. 1816

daughter of Zachary Taylor

Didier Cuche

b. 1974

Swiss skier

James Cameron

b. 1954

Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter

Arvind Kejriwal

b. 1968

Indian civil servant and politician, 7th Chief Minister of Delhi

Moussa Sissoko

b. 1989

French footballer

Helmut Rahn

b. 1929

German footballer

Deaths

  • 2003Idi Amin, Ugandan field marshal and politician, 3rd President of Uganda
  • 1977Elvis Presley, American singer and actor
  • 1956Bela Lugosi, Hungarian-American actor
  • 1893Jean-Martin Charcot, French neurologist and academic
  • 1258Theodore II Laskaris, Byzantine-Greek emperor
  • 79AD 79, Chinese Han dynasty consort

Holidays & observances

  • —Bennington Battle Day (Vermont, United States)
  • —Children's Day (Paraguay)
  • —Christian feast day: Ana Petra Pérez Florido
  • —Christian feast day: Armel (Armagillus)
  • —Christian feast day: Diomedes of Tarsus
  • —Christian feast day: Roch
  • —Christian feast day: Stephen I of Hungary
  • —Christian feast day: Translation of the Acheiropoietos icon from Edessa to Constantinople. (Eastern Orthodox Church)

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