From the archives
Classic headlineAstronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Tuesday 13 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Jane Austen born (1775) and Krysten Ritter born (1981), 206 years apart.
2 / 3 coincidences found today • Auto-spins every 7s
From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
She wore a towering wig to house her pets and refused all guests before 4pm.
Read on CurioVault.co →Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Krysten Ritter1981- Benjamin Bratt1963
- Jane Austen1775
16 December in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
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No verified events yet for 16 December.
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — December 16
1707 Oddly trueThe last recorded eruption of Japan's Mount Fuji released some 800 million m3 (28 billion cu ft) of volcanic ash.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1986 First everThe Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1811 First everThe first two in a series of four severe earthquakes struck the Midwestern United States and made the Mississippi River appear to run backward.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1761 Oddly trueSeven Years' War: After a four-month siege, Russian forces captured Kolberg, the last major Prussian port on the Baltic Sea.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1740 First everPrussian forces, led by Frederick the Great, moved into the Habsburg region of Silesia, starting the First Silesian War.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2015The GuardianWhen it comes down to it, what are universities really for?As school-leavers around Australia ponder their future, one student asks: should they go to university to become skil…
Read on The Guardian →
2013The GuardianDoug Anderson's festive TV highlights 2013Amid the reruns, there are some treasures in the Australian silly-season television schedule, from documentaries and…
Read on The Guardian →- 1939The New York TimesEAST 71ST ST. FLATS CONVEYED BY BANK
Two five-story tenements at 311 and 313 East Seventy-first Street were sold by the City Bank Farmers Trust Company to…
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
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Did you guess the year?
Streak 0 days Best 0
When was “The last recorded eruption of Japan's Mount Fuji released some 800 million m3 (28 billion cu ft) of volcanic ash.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? Oddly true
The last recorded eruption of Japan's Mount Fuji released some 800 million m3 (28 billion cu ft) of volcanic ash.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1986 First ever
The Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1811 First ever
The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes struck the Midwestern United States and made the Mississippi River appear to run backward.
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 December — today is 13 October.
Born on this day
3
1775Birth
Jane Austen born
Jane Austen was born. English novelist.
1963Birth
Benjamin Bratt born
Benjamin Bratt was born. American actor.
1981Birth
Krysten Ritter born
Krysten Ritter was born. American actress.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Suicide
1994Death
Kurt Cobain dies
Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.
Executed
1793Death
Death of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris during French Revolution.
Assassinated
44 BCDeath
Julius Caesar dies
Julius Caesar, roman general/statesman, died on this day in 44 BC. Assassinated by Roman senators. Remembered as: Critical role in the demise of the Roman Republic.
Accident
2012Death
Whitney Houston dies
Whitney Houston, singer and actress, died on this day in 2012. Accidental drowning. Remembered as: One of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Suicide
2008Death
Heath Ledger dies
Heath Ledger, actor, died on this day in 2008. Accidental prescription drug overdose. Remembered as: Acclaimed performances, including the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Famous birthdays
22 this weekToday · 16 December
- Krysten RitterAmerican actress (born 1981)Born 1981 · 45 years ago today
- Benjamin BrattAmerican actor (born 1963)Born 1963 · 63 years ago today
- Jane AustenEnglish novelist (1775–1817)Born 1775 · 251 years ago today
Coming up this week
Milla JovovichAmerican actress (born 1975)17 December · born 1975
Giovanni RibisiAmerican actor (born 1974)17 December · born 1974
Pope FrancisHead of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 202517 December · born 1936
Ludwig van BeethovenGerman composer (1770–1827)17 December · born 1770
Christina AguileraAmerican singer and songwriter (born 1980)18 December · born 1980
Brad PittAmerican actor (born 1963)18 December · born 1963
Celebration16 December
Jane Austen's Birthday
Honors the birth and enduring literary legacy of the brilliant English novelist who penned 'Pride and Prejudice'.
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 December.
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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