✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 75th day of the year

March 16

A look at March 16 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Georg Ohm and Richard Stallman, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2003

    Rachel Corrie

    American activist Rachel Corrie is killed in Rafah by being run over by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer while trying to obstruct the demolition of a home.

    American nonviolence activist and
  2. 2002

    Sofia Gubaidulina

    Sofia Gubaidulina's Johannes-Ostern is premiered, together with her earlier Johannes-Passion, at Hamburg's Michaeliskirche, performed by soloists, choir and orchestra from the Mariinsky Theatre combined with NDR choir and orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev.

    Soviet and Russian composer
  3. 1984

    William Francis Buckley

    William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Lebanon, is kidnapped by Hezbollah; he later dies in captivity.

    US Army officer, CIA
  4. 1978

    Aldo Moro

    Former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro is kidnapped; he is later murdered by his captors.

    Prime Minister of Italy
  5. 1968

    Vietnam War

    Vietnam War: My Lai massacre occurs; between 347 and 500 Vietnamese villagers are killed by American troops.

    1955–1975 war in Southeast
  6. 1962

    Flying Tiger Line Flight 739

    Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 disappears in the western Pacific Ocean with all 107 aboard missing and presumed dead.

    1962 aircraft disappearance west
  7. 1945

    World War II

    World War II: The Battle of Iwo Jima ends, but small pockets of Japanese resistance persist.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  8. 1660

    Long Parliament

    The Long Parliament of England is dissolved so as to prepare for the new Convention Parliament.

    English Parliament from 1640
  9. 1621

    Samoset

    Samoset, an Abenaki, visits the settlers of Plymouth Colony and greets them, "Welcome, Englishmen! My name is Samoset."

    17th-century Abenaki sagamore
  10. 1190

    York Castle

    Massacre of Jews at Clifford's Tower, York.

    Grade I listed monument
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Famous birthday twins

Born on March 16

Georg Ohm

b. 1789

German physicist and mathematician

Richard Stallman

b. 1953

American computer scientist and programmer

Xuande Emperor

b. 1399

ruler of Ming China

James Madison

b. 1751

American academic and politician, 4th President of the United States

Tsutomu Yamaguchi

b. 1916

Japanese engineer and businessman

Theo Walcott

b. 1989

English footballer

Sully Prudhomme

b. 1839

French poet and critic, Nobel Prize laureate

Bernardo Bertolucci

b. 1941

Italian director and screenwriter

Deaths

  • 2003Rachel Corrie, American activist
  • 1965Alice Herz, German activist
  • 1940Selma Lagerlöf, Swedish author and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1925August von Wassermann, German bacteriologist and hygienist
  • 1738George Bähr, German architect, designed the Dresden Frauenkirche
  • 37AD 37, Roman emperor (born 42 BC)

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Eusebia of Hamage
  • —Christian feast day: Finian Lobhar (Finian the Leper)
  • —Christian feast day: Heribert of Cologne
  • —Christian feast day: Hilarius of Aquileia
  • —Christian feast day: Jean de Brébeuf
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed John Amias and Robert Dalby
  • —Christian feast day: Julian of Antioch
  • —Christian feast day: March 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

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