Europa
- The Crimean War Begins (1853)
On October 16, 1853, the Crimean War started when the Ottoman Empire declared war on Russia. Britain, France, and parts of Italy allied with the Ottomans against Russia. This war is notable for being the first to be extensively covered by newspaper reporters and photographers, and for the pioneering work of Florence Nightingale in modern nursing and sanitation. - Execution of Marie Antoinette (1793)
On October 16, 1793, Marie Antoinette, the former Queen of France, was executed by guillotine in Paris during the French Revolution. Her death marked a significant turning point in the Revolution and the downfall of the French monarchy. - Destruction of the Palace of Westminster (1834)
On this day in 1834, most of the original Palace of Westminster in London was destroyed by fire. Only Westminster Hall and a few other parts survived and were incorporated into the new Palace of Westminster, which houses the UK Parliament today. - Nuremberg Executions (1946)
On October 16, 1946, ten leading Nazi war criminals were executed following the Nuremberg Trials, which prosecuted major figures of the Third Reich for war crimes after World War II. This was a landmark moment in international justice. - Opening of the Skye Bridge (1995)
The Skye Bridge in Scotland was officially opened on October 16, 1995, connecting the Isle of Skye to the Scottish mainland and greatly improving access to the island. - Girton College, Cambridge Founded (1869)
Girton College, Cambridge, the first residential college for women in England, was founded on this day in 1869, marking a milestone in women’s higher education. - 1555: English bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were executed for heresy in Oxford.
- 1847: Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre was published in London under the pseudonym Currer Bell.
- 1757: Austrian troops occupied Berlin during the Seven Years’ War.
America
- Cuban Missile Crisis Begins (1962)
On October 16, 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis began when President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of Soviet nuclear missile bases in Cuba. This event marked the start of a 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. - John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859)
Late on the night of October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown and 21 followers raided the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Brown hoped to spark a slave rebellion, but the raid failed. Ten of Brown’s men were killed, five escaped, and Brown and six followers were captured and later executed. - First Birth Control Clinic in the U.S. Opens (1916)
On this day in 1916, Margaret Sanger, a pioneering activist for women’s reproductive rights, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States in Brooklyn, New York. The clinic was soon raided and Sanger was arrested, but the event marked the beginning of the movement that would become Planned Parenthood. - The Million Man March (1995)
On October 16, 1995, the Million Man March was held in Washington, D.C. This gathering of Black men aimed to foster unity and address economic and social issues affecting African Americans. - Luby’s Cafeteria Mass Shooting (1991)
On this date in 1991, a gunman opened fire at a Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, killing 23 people before taking his own life. It was one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history at the time. - 1701: The Collegiate School, later renamed Yale College, was founded in Killingworth, Connecticut.
- 1901: Booker T. Washington dined at the White House with President Theodore Roosevelt, sparking controversy as it was the first time an African American was invited to dine there.
- 1923: Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, now known as The Walt Disney Company.
- 1968: American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the “Black Power” salute at the Mexico City Olympics, making a powerful statement on civil rights.
Asia
- China Detonates Its First Nuclear Weapon (1964)
On October 16, 1964, China conducted its first successful nuclear test at the Lop Nor test site in Xinjiang province. This event marked China as the fifth country in the world to possess nuclear weapons and significantly altered the balance of power in Asia and globally. - Partition of Bengal (1905, India)
The British colonial administration enacted the partition of Bengal on October 16, 1905. This move, intended to divide and rule by splitting the large province along religious lines, sparked widespread protests and became a turning point in the Indian independence movement. - Assassination of Pakistan’s First Prime Minister (1951)
Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, was assassinated on October 16, 1951, in Rawalpindi. His death was a major shock to the young nation and had lasting effects on Pakistan’s political trajectory. - Death of Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1799, India)
Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a prominent chieftain and early freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu, was executed by the British East India Company on October 16, 1799. His resistance and martyrdom inspired later generations in the struggle against colonial rule. - Cyclone in Bay of Bengal (1942, India)
A devastating cyclone struck the Bay of Bengal region south of Calcutta (now Kolkata) on October 16, 1942, resulting in the deaths of approximately 40,000 people. - Japanese Leadership Change (1941, Japan)
On October 16, 1941, Emperor Hirohito appointed Hideki Tojo as Prime Minister of Japan, a pivotal moment leading up to Japan’s increased militarization during World War II. - 1947: The Philippines formally took over the administration of the Turtle Islands and Mangsee Islands from the United Kingdom.
- 1934: The Chinese Communist Party began the Long March, a significant event in Chinese revolutionary history.
Africa
- Desmond Tutu Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1984)
On October 16, 1984, Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his decades-long, non-violent struggle against apartheid and for racial equality in South Africa. This international acknowledgment helped draw global attention to the anti-apartheid movement. - World Food Day (Since 1979)
October 16 is observed as World Food Day, established to mark the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. The day is widely commemorated across Africa, highlighting the continent’s ongoing challenges with hunger and food security, and the critical role of agriculture in African economies. Over 70% of Africa’s population lives and works in rural areas, making agricultural development central to poverty reduction and social protection efforts. - While October 16 does not mark a major independence or political turning point for most African nations, the date is significant in the context of the continent’s broader struggles for justice and equality, as exemplified by Tutu’s Nobel recognition.
- In recent years, the date has also been associated with international responses to health crises in Africa, such as U.S. President Barack Obama’s authorization in 2014 for military reserves to aid in the response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
This day in history: 16 october