AUGUST 16 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on August 16
Pierre François André Méchain
Died: September 20, 1804
French astronomer and surveyor who was a major contributor to the early study of comets.
Wilhelm Wundt
Died: August 31, 1920
One of the fathers of modern psychology. He was the first person to call himself a psychologist and is widely regarded as the "Father of Experimental Psychology".
Bernarr Macfadden
Died: October 12, 1955
Founder of magazine publishing company Macfadden Publications.
Otto Messmer
Died: October 28, 1983
American cartoonist and animator who co-created Felix the Cat.
George Meany
Died: January 10, 1980
Plumber and labor leader who played a vital role in the creation of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
Arthur Rose Eldred
Died: January 4, 1951
First Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
Minoru Genda
Died: August 5, 1989
Japanese general and pilot who is best known for helping to plan the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Kathie Lee Gifford
Talk show host and singer.
James Cameron
Multi-award winning Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter known for his science fiction and action films. Some of his credits include The Terminator, Aliens, Titanic, and the Avatar franchise,
Bonnie Bernstein
Sports journalist and media executive who has been named one of the most accomplished female sportscasters in history by the American Sportscasters Association.
Historical Events on August 16
Events that occurred on August 16 throughout history
England and its Imperial allies defeat French Forces.
King Henry VIII of England and his Imperial allies defeat French Forces at the Battle of the Spurs. French Forces were forced to retreat.
Yorktown, Virginia, is founded.
Yorktown, Virginia, is founded and becomes a central shipping hub for the tobacco trade.
President John Tyler vetoes a bill to re-establish of the Second Bank of the U.S.
President Tyler vetoes a bill to re-establish the Second Bank of the U.S. Every single member of Tyler's cabinet resigned in protest and Tyler was ousted from his party.
President Buchanan and Queen Victoria exchanged the first official transatlantic telegraph messages.
President Buchanan makes the first transatlantic telegraph message by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the UK. Queen Victoria sent a 98-character congratulatory message for the successful telegraph.
President Lincoln prohibits Union states and Confederate states from trading.
President Abraham Lincoln prohibits Union states and Confederate states from trading with each other. Proclamation 86, which made all commercial trade with seceded Southern states unlawful and subject to federal forfeiture.
Tōhoku Imperial University of Japan becomes the first university in Japan to admit female students.
Tōhoku Imperial University of Japan becomes the first university in Japan to admit female students. Three female students were admitted into its College of Science. The university is still open today but operates under the name Tohoku University.
The Migratory Bird Treaty between Canada and the U.S. is signed.
The Migratory Bird Treaty between Canada and the U.S. is signed. The Treaty made it unlawful without a waiver to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, or sell nearly 1,100 species of birds listed therein as migratory birds.
MLB player Ray Chapman is hit on the head by a fastball.
MLB player Ray Chapman (Cleveland Indians) is hit on the head by a fastball thrown by Carl Mays (New York Yankees). Sadly, Chapman dies the next day from his injuries.
The first color sound cartoon is released.
The first color sound cartoon Fiddlesticks is released by Ub Iwerks. The cartoon is the first complete, individual sound cartoon to be photographed in color.
Greek civilians are murdered by soldiers of the German 1st Mountain Division.
The German 1st Mountain Division murder 317 Greek civilians in the village of Kommeno, Greece.
The first issue of Sports Illustrated is published.
The first issue of Sports Illustrated is published. The issue featured Milwaukee Braves third baseman Eddie Mathews at bat against the New York Giants at County Stadium and sold for 25 cents.
IBM introduces software for artificial intelligence.
IBM introduces software for artificial intelligence. The software was intended to bring artificial intelligence applications to personal computers, mid-range systems, and mainframes.