What Happened on March 16
Significant Events
- 597 BC Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king
- 1527 Battle of Khanua: Mughal Emperor Babur defeats Rajput forces led by Rana Sanga consolidating Mughal power
- 1660 English Long Parliament disbands
- 1792 King Gustav III of Sweden is shot by Count Anckarström at a masked ball at the Opera; he dies on March 29
- 1867 First publication of an article by Joseph Lister outlining the discovery of antiseptic surgery, in "The Lancet"
- 1935 Adolf Hitler orders German rearmament in violation of The Treaty of Versailles
March 16 in Film & TV
- 1934 6th Academy Awards: "Cavalcade", Charles Laughton and Katharine Hepburn win, host Will Rogers announces "Come and Get it Frank" and wrong Frank gets up
March 16 in Music
- 1894 Jules Massenet's opera "Thaïs" premieres in Paris, includes piece “Méditation” for violin and orchestra
March 16 in Sport
- 1872 1st FA Cup Final: Wanderers defeat Royal Engineers 1-0 at Kennington Oval in London
Did You Know?
Sir Arthur Evans rediscovers the bronze age city of Knossos in Crete, home of the legendary Minotaur
On March 16, 1900
Famous Birthdays
James Madison
(1751 - 1836)
Anna Atkins
(1799 - 1871)
Jerry Lewis
(1926 - 2017)
Jorge Ramos
60 Years Old
Flavor Flav
59 Years Old
Kevin Smith
(1963 - 2002)
Would You Believe?
General Motors produces its 100 millionth automobile, the Oldsmobile Toronado
On March 16, 1968
Famous Weddings
- 1661 Princess Henrietta of Orange-Nassau (16) weds Philippe of France, Duke of Orléans (20)
- 1822 Opera Composer (The Barber of Seville) Gioacchino Rossini marries 1st wife Opera Singer Isabella Colbran in Bologna
- 1905 Inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Marconi (30) weds Beatrice O'Brien
- 1939 Marriage of Princess Fawzia of Egypt to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran.
- 1985 Actress Maureen McCormick (28) weds Michael Cummings
Famous Divorces
Selma Lagerlöf
Thomas E. Dewey
T-Bone Walker
Eddie ShoreMarch in History
Boy Wonder Conquers Theatreland
Parliament was adjourned on this day so that MPs could grab their seats for a performance by Master Betty – the theatrical wonder of the age.
March 14, 1805
Nature Blows Gunboat Diplomacy Out of the Water
The world's superpowers were prepared to use the power of their warships to control the Samoan Islands in the 1880s. But nature had other ideas.
March 15, 1889
Nat King Cole's Struggle With Racism
Sure, he had unique talent and a golden voice, but as Nat King Cole, born on this day, was to discover, that wasn't enough for American racists.
March 17, 1917
The First People To Hop On A Bus
It was an idea probably two centuries years ahead of its time, but public buses first took to the streets of Paris on this day in history.
March 18, 1662