1916Battle
Battle event - February 16
Historic battle event recorded on this date in 1916, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
Monday 12 October 2026
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Two birth milestones share this date — Birth event - February 16 (1916) and Mahershala Ali born (1974), 58 years apart.
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From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Its copper-based blood detects bacteria — and pharma bleeds it.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Red Tape Holds Up New BridgeHall of Fame◆
- 1975Mets’ Fate Decidedly IffyThe New York Times◆
- 2021Fema opens mass vaccination sites in bid to reach communities of colorThe Guardian◆
- 2012Treasury investigates 4,000 civil service jobs in tax deals reviewThe Guardian◆
- 1804First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia.Wikipedia◆
- 1699First Leopoldine Diploma is issued by the Holy Roman Emperor, recognizing the Greek Catholic clergy enjoyed the same privileges as Roman Catholic priests in the Principality of Transylvania.Wikipedia◆
- 1646Battle of Torrington, Devon: The last major battle of the First English Civil War.Wikipedia◆
- 1804First Barbary War: Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a U.S. Navy raid to destroy the captured USS Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli (depicted), denying her use to the Barbary States.Wikipedia◆
- 1899Iceland's first football club, Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, is founded.Wikipedia◆
- 1961The DuSable Museum, the first museum dedicated to the study and conservation of African American history, culture, and art, was chartered.Wikipedia◆
- 1900The Southern Cross Expedition led by Carsten Borchgrevink (pictured) achieved a new Farthest South of 78° 50'S, making the first landing at the Great Ice Barrier.Wikipedia◆
- 1859The French government passed a law setting the musical note A4 to a frequency of 435 hertz, in the first attempt to standardize concert pitch.Wikipedia◆
- 2006The last Mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army.Wikipedia◆
- 1978The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago).Wikipedia◆
- Red Tape Holds Up New BridgeHall of Fame◆
- 1975Mets’ Fate Decidedly IffyThe New York Times◆
- 2021Fema opens mass vaccination sites in bid to reach communities of colorThe Guardian◆
- 2012Treasury investigates 4,000 civil service jobs in tax deals reviewThe Guardian◆
- 1804First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia.Wikipedia◆
- 1699First Leopoldine Diploma is issued by the Holy Roman Emperor, recognizing the Greek Catholic clergy enjoyed the same privileges as Roman Catholic priests in the Principality of Transylvania.Wikipedia◆
- 1646Battle of Torrington, Devon: The last major battle of the First English Civil War.Wikipedia◆
- 1804First Barbary War: Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a U.S. Navy raid to destroy the captured USS Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli (depicted), denying her use to the Barbary States.Wikipedia◆
- 1899Iceland's first football club, Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, is founded.Wikipedia◆
- 1961The DuSable Museum, the first museum dedicated to the study and conservation of African American history, culture, and art, was chartered.Wikipedia◆
- 1900The Southern Cross Expedition led by Carsten Borchgrevink (pictured) achieved a new Farthest South of 78° 50'S, making the first landing at the Great Ice Barrier.Wikipedia◆
- 1859The French government passed a law setting the musical note A4 to a frequency of 435 hertz, in the first attempt to standardize concert pitch.Wikipedia◆
- 2006The last Mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army.Wikipedia◆
- 1978The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago).Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
The Weeknd1990- Elizabeth Olsen1989
- Mahershala Ali1974
- Birth event - February 161916
16 February in history
5 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
1916Invention
Invention event - February 16
Historic invention event recorded on this date in 1916, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1916Medical
Medical event - February 16
Historic medical event recorded on this date in 1916, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1916Tragedy
Tragedy event - February 16
Historic tragedy event recorded on this date in 1916, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1968Achievement
First 911 call
First 911 emergency call made in Haleyville, Alabama.
Showing 1-5 of 5 events
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — February 16
1804 First everFirst Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1699 First everFirst Leopoldine Diploma is issued by the Holy Roman Emperor, recognizing the Greek Catholic clergy enjoyed the same privileges as Roman Catholic priests in the Principality of Transylvania.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1646 First ever
Battle of Torrington, Devon: The last major battle of the First English Civil War.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1804 First ever
First Barbary War: Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a U.S. Navy raid to destroy the captured USS Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli (depicted), denying her use to the Barbary States.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1899 First everIceland's first football club, Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, is founded.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2021The GuardianFema opens mass vaccination sites in bid to reach communities of colorSites in Los Angeles and Oakland are part of Biden administration’s work to speed Covid-19 immunization process
Read on The Guardian →
2012The GuardianTreasury investigates 4,000 civil service jobs in tax deals reviewPositions in Whitehall and quangos come under scrutiny after discovery of salary payments made direct to private comp…
Read on The Guardian →- 1975The New York TimesMets’ Fate Decidedly Iffy
Consider the New York Mets, the once‐amazing Mets: Hopelessly last or next‐to‐last for seven years,…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
OddlyTrue News Stand
From the archives
Classic headlineRed Tape Holds Up New Bridge
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Did you guess the year?
Streak 0 days Best 0
When was “First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1699 First ever
First Leopoldine Diploma is issued by the Holy Roman Emperor, recognizing the Greek Catholic clergy enjoyed the same privileges as Roman Catholic priests in the Principality of Transylvania.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1646 First ever
Battle of Torrington, Devon: The last major battle of the First English Civil War.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 16 February — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
41916Birth
Birth event - February 16
Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1916, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1974Birth
Mahershala Ali born
Mahershala Ali was born. American actor.
1989Birth
Elizabeth Olsen born
Elizabeth Olsen was born. American actress.
1990Birth
The Weeknd born
The Weeknd was born. Canadian singer.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1948Death
Mahatma Gandhi dies
Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.
Assassinated
1865Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Suicide
2014Death
Robin Williams dies
Robin Williams, actor and comedian, died on this day in 2014. Suicide. Remembered as: Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.
Assassinated
1968Death
Martin Luther King Jr. dies
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, died on this day in 1968. Assassinated in Memphis. Remembered as: Prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
Famous birthdays
29 this weekToday · 16 February
- The WeekndCanadian singer and songwriter (born 1990)Born 1990 · 36 years ago today
- Elizabeth OlsenAmerican actress (born 1989)Born 1989 · 37 years ago today
- Mahershala AliAmerican actor (born 1974)Born 1974 · 52 years ago today
- BEBirth event - February 16Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1916, noted inBorn 1916 · 110 years ago today
Coming up this week
Ed SheeranEnglish singer-songwriter (born 1991)17 February · born 1991
Paris HiltonAmerican media personality (born 1981)17 February · born 1981
Michael JordanAmerican basketball player and businessman (born 1963)17 February · born 1963- BEBirth event - February 17Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1917, noted in17 February · born 1917
Molly RingwaldAmerican actress and writer (born 1968)18 February · born 1968
Dr. DreAmerican rapper (born 1965)18 February · born 1965
Celebration16 February
Innovation Day
Encourages the pursuit of new ideas, technologies, and creative problem-solving worldwide.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 16 February.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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