Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/August 16
August 16: Krishna Janmaashtami (Hinduism, 2006); Children's Day in Paraguay.
- 1777 - American Revolutionary War: The New Hampshire Militia led by John Stark (pictured) routed British and German troops under Friedrich Baum in the Battle of Bennington.
- 1819 - Cavalry charged into a crowd, turning a public meeting in Manchester, England into the Peterloo Massacre.
- 1896 - A group led by Skookum Jim Mason discovered gold near Dawson City, Yukon, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.
- 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.
- 1962 - The Beatles fired drummer Pete Best and replaced him with Ringo Starr.