Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/August 16
This is a list of selected August 16 anniversaries that appear in the "On this day" section of the Main Page. To suggest a new item, in most cases, you can be bold and edit this page. Please read the selected anniversaries guidelines before making your edit. However, if your addition might be controversial or on a day that is or will soon be on the Main Page, please post your suggestion on the talk page instead.
Please note that the events listed on the Main Page are chosen based more on relative article quality and to maintain a mix of topics, not based solely on how important or significant their subjects are. Only four to five events are posted at a time and thus not everything that is "most important and significant" can be listed. In addition, an event is generally not posted this year if it is also the subject of the scheduled featured article, featured list or picture of the day.
To report an error when this appears on the Main Page, see Main Page errors. Please remember that this list defers to the supporting articles, so it is best to achieve consensus and make any necessary changes there first.
Images
Use only ONE image at a time
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Wang Mang, usurper of the Han Dynasty -
A painting of the Peterloo Massacre published by Richard Carlile -
John Stark -
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Elvis Presley -
Skookum Jim Mason -
Trump International Hotel and Tower -
Joseph Kittinger making his record-setting parachute jump
Ineligible
| Blurb | Reason |
|---|---|
| 1987 – Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed after takeoff in Detroit, Michigan, US, killing all of the crew and passengers except one. | unreferenced section |
| 2008 – Trump International Hotel and Tower, which hosted the world's highest residence above ground-level, topped off its construction. | Already featured on April 28 |
Eligible
- 1812 – War of 1812: American General William Hull surrendered Fort Detroit without a fight to the British Army.
- 1819 – Fifteen people were killed and 400–700 others were injured when cavalry charged into a crowd gathered at St Peter's Field, Manchester, England, to demand the reform of parliamentary representation.
- 1863 – After Spain had annexed the Dominican Republic, rebels raised the Dominican flag in Santiago de los Caballeros to begin the War of Restoration.
- 1891 – The San Sebastian Church in Manila, the only all-steel church in Asia, was officially consecrated.
- 1896 – A group led by Skookum Jim Mason discovered gold near Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.
- 1900 – Second Boer War: A 10,000-strong column of soldiers led by Lord Kitchener broke a 13-day siege of a small garrison.
- 1920 – Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians was hit by a pitch and died the following day, becoming the only Major League Baseball player to die directly as a result of injuries sustained during a game.
- 1920 – The Battle of Radzymin, one of the bloodiest and most intense battles of the Polish–Soviet War, concluded with a Polish victory.
- 1929 – A long-running dispute between Muslims and Jews over access to the Western Wall in Jerusalem escalated into a week-long period of violent riots throughout Palestine.
- 1960 – Joseph Kittinger parachuted from a balloon over New Mexico at 102,800 feet (31,330 m), setting records for high-altitude jump, free-fall height, and fastest speed by a human without an aircraft.
- 1977 – Elvis Presley, "The King of Rock and Roll", was officially pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, after he was found unresponsive on the floor of his Graceland bathroom.
- 2009 – Y. E. Yang won the 2009 PGA Championship to become the first Asian-born golfer to win a men's major golf championship.
Notes
- Battle of Fort Dearborn appears on August 15, so Siege of Detroit should not appear in the same year
- Abbey Road appears on August 8, so Ringo Starr should not appear in the same year
August 16: Krishna Janmashtami (Hinduism, 2014); Children's Day in Paraguay
- 1513 – War of the League of Cambrai: King Henry VIII of England and his Imperial allies defeated French cavalry, who were then forced to retreat.
- 1777 – American Revolutionary War: The Americans, led by General John Stark, routed British and Brunswick troops under Friedrich Baum at the Battle of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York.
- 1906 – An estimated 8.2 MW earthquake hit Valparaíso, Chile, killing 3,886 people.
- 1946 – A day of widespread riot and manslaughter between Hindus and Muslims took place in the city of Calcutta as a result of the Muslim League's call for an independent Pakistan.
- 1962 – The Beatles fired drummer Pete Best and replaced him with Ringo Starr (pictured).