This day in history: 16 july

Europa

• In 1054, the East–West Schism formally began when three Roman legates placed a papal bull of excommunication on the altar of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, breaking relations between the Western (Roman Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) Christian churches. This event is considered the formal start of the division between the two branches of Christianity.
• In 1212, the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa took place during the Reconquista in Spain. European Christian knights from Castile, Navarre, Aragon, and Portugal defeated the Berber Muslim Almohad forces, marking a turning point in medieval Spanish history.
• In 1377, King Richard II of England was crowned at the age of 10. He ruled until 1399 when he was deposed.
• In 1661, the first banknotes in Europe were issued by the Swedish bank Stockholms Banco, marking an important development in European financial history.
• In 1683, Manchu Qing dynasty naval forces defeated the Kingdom of Tungning near the Pescadores Islands, an event of note though outside mainland Europe but involving European colonial interests.
• In 1723, the influential English painter Sir Joshua Reynolds was born. He became the first president of the Royal Academy and was knighted by King George III.
• In 1940 during World War II, Adolf Hitler issued Directive No. 16 ordering the planning of Operation Sealion, the planned German invasion of Britain. This was a crucial moment in the Battle of Britain campaign.
• In 1945, the leaders of the Allied nations met in Potsdam, Germany, to decide the future of defeated Germany. Also on this day, the United States successfully detonated the first atomic bomb near Alamogordo, New Mexico, marking the beginning of the Atomic Age.

America

• First Atomic Bomb Test (1945)
  The United States detonated the world’s first atomic bomb near Alamogordo, New Mexico, marking the beginning of the Atomic Age. This test, part of the Manhattan Project, had profound implications for the end of World War II and the subsequent nuclear era.
• Apollo 11 Launch (1969)
  NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. This mission led to the first human landing on the Moon a few days later, a pivotal achievement in space exploration.
• Establishment of Washington, D.C. (1790)
  The United States Congress passed the Residence Act, establishing the District of Columbia as the nation’s capital. This area would later become Washington, D.C., the seat of the U.S. federal government.
• Battle of Stony Point (1779)
  During the American Revolutionary War, Continental Army forces led a successful midnight bayonet assault against a fortified British position at Stony Point, New York.
• Mission San Diego de Alcalá Founded (1769)
  Father Junípero Serra founded California’s first mission, Mission San Diego de Alcalá, which eventually developed into the city of San Diego.
• Creation of Rear Admiral Rank (1862)
  The U.S. Congress established the rank of Rear Admiral in the Navy, appointing David G. Farragut as the first officer to hold the title.
• In 1861, Union troops began their march toward the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the American Civil War.
• In 1941, Joe DiMaggio hit safely in his 56th consecutive Major League Baseball game, a record that still stands.
• In 1999, John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife, and her sister died in a plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Asia

• The Hijrah and the Beginning of the Islamic Calendar (622)
  On July 16, 622, the Prophet Muhammad began his migration (Hijrah) from Mecca to Medina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar and is one of the most significant moments in Islamic and world history.
• Nepal Gains Independence (1951)
  On July 16, 1951, Nepal officially became independent from British influence, marking a crucial moment in the country’s modern history.
• Mahathir Mohamad Becomes Prime Minister of Malaysia (1981)
  On July 16, 1981, Mahathir Mohamad took office as the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He would go on to become the country’s longest-serving leader and a major figure in Asian politics.
• Significant Natural Disasters
  On July 16, 2007, a major earthquake struck off the coast of Niigata, Japan, resulting in the deaths of eight people, injuries to at least 800, and damage to a nuclear power plant.
• On July 16, 2013, a food poisoning incident in eastern India led to the deaths of 27 children and hospitalization of 25 others after they ate lunch served at their school.
• On July 16, 2019, a 100-year-old building collapsed in Mumbai, India, killing at least 10 people and trapping many others.
• On July 16, 2009, Teoh Beng Hock, an aide to a Malaysian politician, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, sparking national controversy and an inquest in Malaysia.
• On July 16, 2007, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was arrested in a money laundering case.
• In 1981, India conducted nuclear tests, further establishing its position in the global nuclear landscape.
• On July 16, 2004, China conducted its first online air defense exercise in Tianjin, demonstrating advancements in military technology.

Africa

• Birth of Charles Robberts Swart (1894–1982)
  Charles Robberts Swart, who became the first State President of South Africa, was born on July 16, 1894. Swart played a significant role in South Africa’s transition to a republic in 1961 and was a key political figure during the apartheid era.
• Inventions by Africans
  On July 16, 1963, Charles Bankhead received a patent for his assembled composition printing process, highlighting African contributions to technological innovation.
• World Snake Day
  July 16 is also recognized as World Snake Day, a day observed in Africa and globally to raise awareness about snakes and their ecological importance.
• African Diaspora and Global Black History
  On July 16, 1862, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a prominent anti-lynching activist, journalist, and civil rights leader, was born. While she was born in the United States, her legacy is significant within the global African diaspora and is often commemorated in African and Black history contexts.