Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/August 16
- 1841 - U.S. President John Tyler vetoed a bill which called for the re-establishment of the Second Bank of the United States. Enraged Whig Party members rioted outside the White House in the most violent demonstration on White House grounds in U.S. history.
- 1960 - Cyprus gained independence from the United Kingdom. (Not recognized by Turkey.)
- 1962 - The Beatles fired Pete Best and replaced him with Ringo Starr.