On This Day

What Happened in October 1616

Historical Events


Historic DiscoveryDirk Hartog Discovers Australia

Oct 25 Dutch East India Company ship "The Eendracht" discovers Dirk-Hartog Island, Australia
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An illustration of Dirk Hartog nailing the inscribed pewter plate in Dirk Hartog Island, Australia
An illustration of Dirk Hartog nailing the inscribed pewter plate in Dirk Hartog Island, Australia

Famous Birthdays

  • Oct 2 Andreas Gryphius, German lyric poet and dramatist, born in Glogau, Silesia (d. 1664)
  • Oct 20 Thomas Bartholin, Danish physician, mathematician, and theologian (d. 1680)

Famous Deaths

  • Oct 10 Maria van Nassau, countess of Buren, dies at 60
  • Oct 17 John Pitts, Catholic scholar and writer. (b. 1560)
  • Oct 23 Leonhard Hutter, German theologian (b. 1563)

What Happened in 1616

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