What Happened on February 16

Complete Timeline — February 16 Through the Ages

1. 374

   9th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

   9th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

2. 600

   Pope Gregory the Great decrees saying "God bless You" is the correct response to a sneeze

   Pope Gregory the Great decrees saying "God bless You" is the correct response to a sneeze

3. 1349

   Jews are expelled from Burgdorf, Switzerland, accused of spreading the Bubonic Plague

   Jews are expelled from Burgdorf, Switzerland, accused of spreading the Bubonic Plague

4. 1512

   Battle at Valeggio: French troops beat Venetianen

   Battle at Valeggio: French troops beat Venetianen

5. 1519

   Gaspard de Coligny is born

   Gaspard de Coligny, French nobleman and admiral of france, leader of the huguenots, known for french nobleman and admiral of france, leader of the huguenots, was born on 1519-02-16.

6. 1646

   Battle of Great Torrington, Devon - the last major battle of the first English Civil War

   The First English Civil War took place in England and Wales from 1642 to 1646, and forms part of the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

7. 1655

   Grand Pensionary of Holland Johan de Witt marries Wendela Bicker

   Wendela Bicker (Amsterdam, baptized 30 December 1635 – 1 July 1668) was the wife of Johan de Witt.

8. 1659

   First known cheque written (£400), now on display at Westminster Abbey

   First known cheque written (£400), now on display at Westminster Abbey

9. 1666

   Netherlands & Brandenburg sign treaty

   The Treaty of Kleve was a treaty signed in Kleve in 1666 which was proposed by Frederick William of Brandenburg.

10. 1677

    Earl of Shaftesbury arrested and confined in the Tower of London

    Earl of Shaftesbury arrested and confined in the Tower of London

11. 1734

    Jurist William Allen (29) weds Margaret Hamilton

    Jurist William Allen (29) weds Margaret Hamilton

12. 1751

    First publication of Thomas Gray's poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard"

    Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is a poem by Thomas Gray, completed in 1750 and first published in 1751.

13. 1760

    Native American hostages killed in Fort Prince George, South Carolina

    Fort Loudoun was a British fort located in what is now Monroe County, Tennessee. Constructed from 1756 until 1757 to help garner Cherokee support for the British at the outset of the French and...

14. 1777

    French astronomer Charles Messier adds M53 to his catalog (globular cluster in Coma Berenice)

    French astronomer Charles Messier adds M53 to his catalog (globular cluster in Coma Berenice)

15. 1784

    American Revolutionary War patriot Ethan Allen (46) weds second wife Frances Montresor Brush Buchanan

    American Revolutionary War patriot Ethan Allen (46) weds second wife Frances Montresor Brush Buchanan

16. 1804

    US Navy Lt Stephen Decatur raids Tripoli Harbor & burns Navy frigate "Philadelphia" after it is seized by pirates

    US Navy Lt Stephen Decatur raids Tripoli Harbor & burns Navy frigate "Philadelphia" after it is seized by pirates

17. 1812

    Henry Wilson is born

    Henry Wilson is born

18. 1824

    Athenaeum Club is founded in London as a private members' club

    The Athenaeum is a private members' club in London, founded in 1824. It is primarily a club for men and women with intellectual interests, and particularly (but not exclusively) for those who have...

19. 1838

    Kentucky passes law permitting women to attend school under conditions

    Kentucky passes law permitting women to attend school under conditions

20. 1840

    American Charles Wilkes discovers the Shackleton Ice Shelf in Antarctica

    Antarctica ( ) is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean),...

21. 1846

    Battle of Sobraon ends 1st Sikh War in India

    The First Anglo-Sikh War (also known as the First Anglo-Punjabi War) was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British Empire from 1845 to 1846 around the Firozpur district of Punjab.

22. 1852

    Studebaker Brothers wagon company established - precursor of the automobile manufacturer

    Studebaker Brothers wagon company established - precursor of the automobile manufacturer

23. 1852

    Charles Taze Russell is born

    Charles Taze Russell, American founder of the bible student movement, known for founder of the bible student movement, was born on 1852-02-16.

24. 1857

    Gallaudet College (National Deaf Mute college) forms in Washington, D.C.

    Gallaudet College (National Deaf Mute college) forms in Washington, D.C.

25. 1859

    The French Government passes a law to set the A-note above middle C to a frequency of 435 Hz, in an attempt to standardi

    The French Government passes a law to set the A-note above middle C to a frequency of 435 Hz, in an attempt to standardize the pitch

26. 1860

    Dutch Rochussen/Van Bosse government resigns

    Dutch Rochussen/Van Bosse government resigns

27. 1864

    Battle of Mobile, Alabama - operations by Union Army

    The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was a naval and land engagement of the American Civil War in which a Union fleet commanded by Rear Admiral David G.

28. 1866

    Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington becomes the British Secretary of State for War

    Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington becomes the British Secretary of State for War

29. 1868

    Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks organizes in New York City

    Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks organizes in New York City

30. 1880

    American Society of Mechanical Engineers forms (NYC)

    American Society of Mechanical Engineers forms (NYC)

31. 1883

    "Ladies Home Journal" begins publishing in the US

    "Ladies Home Journal" begins publishing in the US

32. 1887

    Dutch writer Multatuli writes his last text

    Dutch writer Multatuli writes his last text

33. 1894

    British troops occupy Ilorin, Gold Coast

    British troops occupy Ilorin, Gold Coast

34. 1899

    Future England cricket captain Pelham Warner scores an unbeaten 132 on his Test debut in a 32 run win over South Africa

    Future England cricket captain Pelham Warner scores an unbeaten 132 on his Test debut in a 32 run win over South Africa in the 1st Test in Johannesburg

35. 1900

    1st Chinese daily newspaper in US publishes, Chung Sai Yat Po in San Francisco

    1st Chinese daily newspaper in US publishes, Chung Sai Yat Po in San Francisco

36. 1903

    -59°F (-51°C), Pokegama Dam, Minnesota (state record)

    -59°F (-51°C), Pokegama Dam, Minnesota (state record)

37. 1905

    1st US Esperanto club organizes in Boston

    Esperanto () is the world's most widely spoken constructed auxiliary language. Created by L. L.

38. 1909

    1st subway car with side doors goes into service (NYC)

    1st subway car with side doors goes into service (NYC)

39. 1912

    VSV soccer team forms in Ijmuiden

    VSV soccer team forms in Ijmuiden

40. 1914

    1st airplane flight from LA to SF

    1st airplane flight from LA to SF

41. 1915

    MLB baseball slugger Frank "Home Run" Baker (28) announces retirement following a contract dispute with Connie Mack. He

    MLB baseball slugger Frank "Home Run" Baker (28) announces retirement following a contract dispute with Connie Mack. He sits out 1915 season

42. 1916

    Russian troops conquer the Ottoman Empire city of Erzurum during WWI

    Russian troops conquer the Ottoman Empire city of Erzurum during WWI

43. 1917

    1st synagogue in 425 years opens in Madrid

    1st synagogue in 425 years opens in Madrid

44. 1918

    Lithuania declares independence from Russia & Germany (National Day)

    The Act of Independence of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės Aktas) or the Act of February 16th, also the Lithuanian Resolution on Independence (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės...

45. 1921

    Hua Guofeng is born

    Hua Guofeng is born

46. 1921

    Vera-Ellen is born

    Vera-Ellen, American actress, singer and dancer, known for american actress, singer and dancer, was born on 1921-02-16. Vera-Ellen was an American dancer, actress, and singer.

47. 1923

    Howard Carter opens the inner burial chamber of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb and finds the sarcophagus

    Howard Carter (9 May 1874 – 2 March 1939) was a British archaeologist and Egyptologist who became known for discovering the intact tomb of the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Tutankhamun in November 1922, the...

48. 1923

    Allies accept Latvia's occupation of Memel territory

    Allies accept Latvia's occupation of Memel territory

49. 1925

    Rescuers finally reach the body of caver Floyd Collins too late, 18 days after he became trapped in Sand Cave, Kentucky,

    Rescuers finally reach the body of caver Floyd Collins too late, 18 days after he became trapped in Sand Cave, Kentucky, bringing a tragic end to a story that had captured the nation [1]

50. 1926

    Suzanne Lenglen defeats US champion Helen Wills in influential tennis match in Cannes, France

    Suzanne Lenglen defeats US champion Helen Wills in influential tennis match in Cannes, France

51. 1931

    Extreme right wing politician Pehr Evind Svinhufvud becomes President of Finland

    Extreme right wing politician Pehr Evind Svinhufvud becomes President of Finland

52. 1932

    1st patent for a tree issued to James Markham for a peach tree

    1st patent for a tree issued to James Markham for a peach tree

53. 1933

    Catholic newspaper Germania warns against Nazis and communists

    Catholic newspaper Germania warns against Nazis and communists

54. 1934

    Austrian Civil War ends with the defeat of the Social Democrats and the Republican Schutzbund

    The Austrian Civil War of 12–15 February 1934, also known as the February Uprising (Februaraufstand) or the February Fights (Februarkämpfe), was a series of clashes in the First Austrian Republic...

55. 1935

    Sonny Bono is born

    Sonny Bono, American musician, known for american singer, record producer, comedian, actor, and politician, was born on 1935-02-16.

56. 1936

    IV Winter Olympic Games close in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

    The 1936 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IV Olympic Winter Games (German: IV.

57. 1937

    DuPont Corp patents nylon, developed by employee Wallace Carothers

    DuPont Corp patents nylon, developed by employee Wallace Carothers

58. 1937

    Carl Icahn is born

    Carl Icahn, American businessman and financier, known for american businessman and financier, was born on 1937-02-16. Carl Celian Icahn is an American businessman and investor.

59. 1938

    "Bringing Up Baby" film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, is released

    Bringing Up Baby is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, and starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures.

60. 1940

    British search plane finds German supply ship Altmark, used to accommodate allied sailors from vessels sunk by the Graf

    British search plane finds German supply ship Altmark, used to accommodate allied sailors from vessels sunk by the Graf Spee off Norway

61. 1942

    Bangka Island massacre: Japanese soldiers machine-gun 22 Australian Army nurses and 60 Australian and British soldiers a

    Bangka Island massacre: Japanese soldiers machine-gun 22 Australian Army nurses and 60 Australian and British soldiers and crew members from two sunken ships. Only one nurse and two soldiers survive.

62. 1942

    Kim Jong-il is born

    Kim Jong-il is born

63. 1943

    -32°F (-36°C), Falls Village, Connecticut (state record)

    -32°F (-36°C), Falls Village, Connecticut (state record)

64. 1945

    US forces land on Corregidor, complete conquest on March 3

    The Battle of Corregidor (Filipino: Labanan sa Corregidor; Japanese: コレヒドールの戦い), fought on 5–6 May 1942, was the culmination of the Japanese campaign for the conquest of the Commonwealth of the...

65. 1946

    1st commercially designed helicopter tested, Bridgeport, Connecticut

    1st commercially designed helicopter tested, Bridgeport, Connecticut

66. 1948

    1st newsreel telecast, "20th Century Fox-Movietone News," shown on NBC

    1st newsreel telecast, "20th Century Fox-Movietone News," shown on NBC

67. 1950

    Longest-running prime-time game show, "What's My Line" begins on CBS

    What's My Line? is a panel game show that originally ran in the United States, between 1950 and 1967, on CBS, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent American revivals.

68. 1951

    NYC passes bill prohibiting racism in city-assisted housing

    NYC passes bill prohibiting racism in city-assisted housing

69. 1952

    Ian Craig makes NSW cricket debut aged 16 years 249 days (NSW record)

    Ian Craig makes NSW cricket debut aged 16 years 249 days (NSW record)

70. 1954

    WNEM TV channel 5 in Bay City, MI (NBC) begins broadcasting

    WNEM TV channel 5 in Bay City, MI (NBC) begins broadcasting

71. 1959

    Fidel Castro becomes the 16th Prime Minister of Cuba after overthrowing Fulgencio Batista

    The island of Cuba was inhabited by various Native American cultures prior to the arrival of the explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492.

72. 1959

    Ice-T is born

    Ice-T, American rapper and actor, known for american rapper and actor, was born on 1959-02-16. Tracy Lauren Marrow, known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor.

73. 1960

    US nuclear submarine USS Triton set off on underwater round-world trip

    USS Triton (SSRN/SSN-586), the only member of her class, was a nuclear powered radar picket submarine in the United States Navy. She was the only Western submarine powered by two nuclear reactors.

74. 1960

    John McEnroe is born

    John McEnroe athlete, known for american former tennis player, was born on 1960-02-16. John Patrick McEnroe Jr. is an American former professional tennis player.

75. 1961

    China uses its 1st nuclear reactor

    China uses its 1st nuclear reactor

76. 1962

    "La Jetée", French film directed by Chris Marker, starring Hélène Chatelain, Davos Hanich and Jacques Ledoux, is release

    "La Jetée", French film directed by Chris Marker, starring Hélène Chatelain, Davos Hanich and Jacques Ledoux, is released

77. 1963

    The Beatles top British rock charts with "Please, Please Me"

    With the Beatles is the second studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 November 1963 on Parlophone, eight months after the release of the band's…

78. 1963

    1st round-trip swim of Strait of Messina, Italy (Mary Revell of US)

    1st round-trip swim of Strait of Messina, Italy (Mary Revell of US)

79. 1965

    Pegasus 1 launched to detect micro-meteors

    Pegasus 1 launched to detect micro-meteors

80. 1966

    Australian cricket batsman Bob Cowper makes a patient 307 (727 mins, 20 x 4s) in drawn 5th Test v England in Melbourne

    Australian cricket batsman Bob Cowper makes a patient 307 (727 mins, 20 x 4s) in drawn 5th Test v England in Melbourne

81. 1975

    Mahershala Ali is born

    Mahershala Ali, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1975-02-16. Mahershala Ali ( mə-HUR-shə-lə; born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore on February 16, 1974) is an American actor.

82. 1977

    USSR performs nuclear test at Sary Shagan

    USSR performs nuclear test at Sary Shagan

83. 1978

    1st Computer Bulletin Board System (Ward & Randy's CBBS, Chicago)

    1st Computer Bulletin Board System (Ward & Randy's CBBS, Chicago)

84. 1980

    Valentino Rossi is born

    Valentino Rossi, Italian athlete, known for italian motorcycle racer, was born on 1980-02-16.

85. 1982

    Actors Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett Majors divorce

    Harvey Lee Yeary, known professionally as Lee Majors, is an American actor. He portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley on the American television Western series The Big Valley (1965–1969), Colonel…

86. 1982

    Agatha Barbara elected as 1st female president of Malta

    Agatha Barbara elected as 1st female president of Malta

87. 1983

    The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia claim the lives of 75 people in one of Australia's worst eve

    The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia claim the lives of 75 people in one of Australia's worst ever fires

88. 1985

    Largest NBA crowd to date, 43,816, sees Philadelphia at Detroit

    Largest NBA crowd to date, 43,816, sees Philadelphia at Detroit

89. 1986

    Stacy Lewis is born

    Stacy Lewis, American athlete, known for american professional golfer, was born on 1986-02-16. Stacy Lewis is an American professional golfer on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.

90. 1988

    First documented combat action by US military advisors in El Salvador

    An authoritarian military dictatorship ruled Chile for almost seventeen years, between 11 September 1973 and 11 March 1990.

91. 1989

    Actress Jane Fonda and activist Tom Hayden separate after 16 years of marriage

    Jane Seymour Fonda is an American actress and activist. Fonda's work spans several genres and over six decades of film and television.

92. 1990

    Elizabeth Olsen is born

    Elizabeth Olsen, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1990-02-16. Elizabeth Chase Olsen is an American actress.

93. 1990

    Keith Haring dies

    Keith Haring, American artist and social activist, known for american artist and social activist, died on 1990-02-16.

94. 1991

    Dutch PPR, Political Party Radicals, disbands

    The Communist Party of the Netherlands was a communist party in the Netherlands. The party was founded in 1909 as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and merged with the Pacifist Socialist Party, the...

95. 1991

    The Weeknd is born

    The Weeknd, Canadian musician, known for canadian singer-songwriter, was born on 1991-02-16.

96. 1993

    Sandra Völker swims world record 50m backstroke (28.33 sec)

    Sandra Völker swims world record 50m backstroke (28.33 sec)

97. 1994

    6.5 earthquake strikes South East Sumatra, kills 200

    6.5 earthquake strikes South East Sumatra, kills 200

98. 1995

    Ava Max is born

    Ava Max, American musician, known for american singer and songwriter, was born on 1995-02-16. Amanda Ava Koci, known professionally as Ava Max, is an American singer and songwriter.

99. 1996

    Gary Kirsten scores 188* for South Africa v UAE at Rawalpindi

    Gary Kirsten scores 188* for South Africa v UAE at Rawalpindi

100. 1998

     Tellabs Inc acquires Coherent Communications Systems for $670 million

     Tellabs Inc acquires Coherent Communications Systems for $670 million

101. 1999

     Kurdish rebels take over Greek and Kenyan embassies across Europe and hold hostages after the two countries helped Turke

     Kurdish rebels take over Greek and Kenyan embassies across Europe and hold hostages after the two countries helped Turkey arrest one of their rebel leaders, Abdullah Öcalan [1]

102. 2001

     Mathieu Schneider of the Los Angeles Kings becomes the first defenseman in history to score a goal against all 30 NHL te

     Mathieu Schneider of the Los Angeles Kings becomes the first defenseman in history to score a goal against all 30 NHL teams as LA beats Minnesota, 4-0

103. 2003

     45th Daytona 500: Michael Waltrip wins for the second time in 3 years; race ends after 109 laps when rain pours on the t

     45th Daytona 500: Michael Waltrip wins for the second time in 3 years; race ends after 109 laps when rain pours on the track

104. 2004

     The Pittsburgh Penguins lose their 12th consecutive home game, a NHL record

     The Pittsburgh Penguins lose their 12th consecutive home game, a NHL record

105. 2005

     Kyoto Protocol comes into force following its ratification by Russia, committing industrialized nations to limit and red

     Kyoto Protocol comes into force following its ratification by Russia, committing industrialized nations to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

106. 2005

     -05 NHL season is cancelled by Commissioner Gary Bettman; first time a North American professional sports league has cal

     -05 NHL season is cancelled by Commissioner Gary Bettman; first time a North American professional sports league has called off a season due to labor dispute

107. 2006

     The last Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army

     Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) were U.S. Army field hospital units conceptualized in 1946 as replacements for the obsolete World War II-era Auxiliary Surgical Group hospital units.

108. 2012

     Gary Carter dies

     Gary Carter, American baseball player, coach, and sportscaster, known for american baseball player, coach, and sportscaster, died on 2012-02-16.

109. 2013

     84 people are killed and 190 are injured after a market bombing in Hazara Town, Pakistan

     Between 2004 and 2018, the United States government attacked thousands of targets in northwest Pakistan using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) operated by the United States Air Force under the...

110. 2013

     Tony Sheridan dies

     Tony Sheridan, English musician, known for british musician, died on 2013-02-16. Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity (21 May 1940 – 16 February 2013), known professionally as Tony Sheridan, was an…

111. 2014

     American Bode Miller (36) becomes the oldest medalist in Olympic alpine skiing history when he ties for bronze in the su

     American Bode Miller (36) becomes the oldest medalist in Olympic alpine skiing history when he ties for bronze in the super-G in Sochi

112. 2016

     China announces it will relocate 9,000 people in Guizhou province, before completion of world's largest telescope (FAST)

     China announces it will relocate 9,000 people in Guizhou province, before completion of world's largest telescope (FAST), designed to look for extraterrestrial life

113. 2016

     Boutros Boutros-Ghali dies

     Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egyptian un secretary-general from 1992 to 1996, known for un secretary-general from 1992 to 1996, died on 2016-02-16.

114. 2017

     Car bomb in Bayaa, Baghdad kills at least 48, Islamic State claims responsibility. 3rd attack in 3 days

     Car bomb in Bayaa, Baghdad kills at least 48, Islamic State claims responsibility. 3rd attack in 3 days

115. 2018

     More than 100,00 orangutans killed in Borneo since 1999 according to study published in "Current Biology"

     More than 100,00 orangutans killed in Borneo since 1999 according to study published in "Current Biology"

116. 2019

     India's new high-speed train the Vande Bharat Express breaks down on its first return trip on Delhi to Varanasi route

     India's new high-speed train the Vande Bharat Express breaks down on its first return trip on Delhi to Varanasi route

117. 2020

     'Ghost ship' cargo vessel MV Alta washed up on the Irish coast near Ballycotton by Storm Dennis, after drifting across t

     'Ghost ship' cargo vessel MV Alta washed up on the Irish coast near Ballycotton by Storm Dennis, after drifting across the Atlantic from Bermuda

118. 2021

     Athens and parts of Greece covered in unusual heavy snowfall

     Athens and parts of Greece covered in unusual heavy snowfall

119. 2022

     Johannes Høsflot Klæbo teams with Erik Valnes to win the men's team sprint for Norway and clinch the cross country frees

     Johannes Høsflot Klæbo teams with Erik Valnes to win the men's team sprint for Norway and clinch the cross country freestyle sprint double at the Beijing Winter Olympics

120. 2023

     WWII: US Naval History and Heritage Command confirms identity of the wreck USS Albacore, a submarine lost in 1944, disco

     WWII: US Naval History and Heritage Command confirms identity of the wreck USS Albacore, a submarine lost in 1944, discovered by University of Tokyo sonar team in 2022 off of Hokkaidō, Japan

121. 2024

     Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos can be considered children as part of a wrongful death case where frozen embr

     Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos can be considered children as part of a wrongful death case where frozen embryos were accidentally destroyed at a clinic [1]

122. 2024

     Alexei Navalny dies

     Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader and activist, known for russian opposition leader and activist, died on 2024-02-16.

123. 2025

     67th Daytona 500: William Byron becomes first back-to-back winner since Denny Hamlin in 2019-20 after escaping the chaos

     67th Daytona 500: William Byron becomes first back-to-back winner since Denny Hamlin in 2019-20 after escaping the chaos that knocked out the bulk of contenders in 2 late-race accidents

124. 2026

     YouTuber Logan Paul sells his ultra-rare Pokémon Pikachu Illustrator card for a world record-breaking $16.5 million at G

     YouTuber Logan Paul sells his ultra-rare Pokémon Pikachu Illustrator card for a world record-breaking $16.5 million at Golden Auctions

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