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
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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