May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 229 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about May 16th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about May 16th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- Buddha Jayanti
- International Day Of Light
- National Drawing Day
- National Biographer’s Day
- International Day of Living Together in Peace
- National Sea Monkey Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – May 16
1991: Queen Elizabeth II addresses the U.S. Congress becoming the first British Monarch to address Congress in 1991.
1975: Junko Tabei becomes the first woman to conquer Mount Everest
The ascent by the Japanese adventurer came 22 years after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to reach the summit.
1966: In China, the Cultural Revolution begins
The publication of the May 16 notification marks the beginning of the political campaign, which was initiated by Mao Zedong and lasted ten years. Its objective was to strengthen communism by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from Chinese society.
1960: Theodore Maiman fires the first functional laser
The American physicist’s invention, an advancement of earlier research by scientists in the U.S. and the Soviet Union, was patented in 1967.
1929: The Oscars are awarded for the first time
The first Academy Awards were presented at a private dinner with about 270 attendees. Today, it is the world’s most important entertainment awards ceremony.
1919: Albert Cushing Read takes off on the first transatlantic flight in history
The crossing from New York State, USA to Lisbon, Portugal on a Curtiss NC-4 flying boat took 19 days.
1971: Statue of The Little Mermaid in a gas mask during protests against environmental pollution in Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhagen, 1971
1961: Chimp holding newspaper about himself 1961
1929: The Oscars are awarded for the first time in 1929. On 16th May 1929, German actor Emil Jannings became the first ever person to win an Oscar award on the first ever Oscar ever held! He won Oscar for his role in the movie ‘The Last Command’.
1918: Indian Police motorcycle with a mounted sidecar machine gun. New York City, May 16 1918
1918: People paying tribute to the millions of donkeys, mules, and horses lost during WW1 1918
1914: Giuseppe Garibaldi’s grandsons – Bruno, Ricciotti, Giuseppe “Peppino”, Sante, Costante and Ezio Garibaldi – in France in 1914, as officers of the “Garibaldi Legion” fighting in the Argonne
218: Elagabalus becomes the emperor of Rome. (16 May 218)
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, May 16
1966: Janet Jackson, American singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, actress
1953: Pierce Brosnan, Irish/American actor, singer, producer
1919: Liberace, American singer, pianist, actor
1905: Henry Fonda, American actor, singer, producer
1831: David Edward Hughes, Welsh/American scientist, co-invented the microphone
Pierce Brosnan was born.
Megan Fox was born.
Janet Jackson was born.
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, May 16
2012: Maria Bieşu, Moldovan opera singer
1990: Jim Henson, American puppeteer, director, producer, founded The Company
1990: Sammy Davis, Jr., American actor, singer, dancer
1977: Modibo Keïta, Malian politician, 1st President of Mali
1953: Django Reinhardt, Belgian guitarist, composer
Jim Hanson died.
Ronnie James Dio died.
Andy Kaufmann died.
