Owain Glyndŵr Proclaimed Prince of Wales
On 16 September 1400, according to Welsh tradition and contemporary English records, Owain Glyndŵr was proclaimed Prince of Wales and launched his rebellion against King Henry IV of England. Glyndŵr, a member of the Welsh gentry, rallied discontented nobles and commoners who resented English rule and legal discrimination. His uprising ignited a long, bitter conflict that saw major Welsh military successes before being slowly ground down. The revolt left a deep mark on Welsh national identity, and Glyndŵr remains a powerful symbol of Welsh independence.
The Mayflower Departs England for the New World
On 16 September 1620, the merchant ship Mayflower finally left Plymouth, England, carrying a mixed group of religious separatists and other settlers toward North America. Delayed for weeks by leaks and repairs to its companion ship Speedwell, the Mayflower set out alone on a rough Atlantic crossing that would last more than two months. The passengers endured cramped, unsanitary conditions and heavy storms before sighting Cape Cod in November. Their arrival laid the groundwork for the Plymouth Colony, which became one of the early English footholds in what would become the United States.
The Old Pretender Proclaimed James III by His Supporters
On 16 September 1701, after the death of deposed king James II of England and VII of Scotland, Jacobite supporters proclaimed his son James Francis Edward Stuart as “James III and VIII.” Living in exile in France, the new claimant quickly became known as the “Old Pretender.” While Britain’s official succession passed to William III and then Anne, the proclamation kept alive an alternative royal line that would fuel uprisings in 1715 and 1745. The moment symbolized the enduring fault line over monarchy, religion, and legitimacy in post-Glorious Revolution Britain.
Washington Wins a Morale-Boosting Fight at Harlem Heights
On 16 September 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington’s troops clashed with British forces in the Battle of Harlem Heights on northern Manhattan Island. Just days after a chaotic withdrawal from New York City, Continental soldiers used the hilly terrain to launch bold counterattacks against seasoned British light infantry. Though tactically limited, the American success broke a string of defeats and restored badly needed confidence in Washington’s army. The engagement showed that the revolutionaries could stand and fight effectively against professional British troops.
Hidalgo’s “Grito de Dolores” Launches the Mexican Independence Struggle
In the early hours of 16 September 1810, parish priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bell in Dolores and issued the famous “Grito de Dolores,” calling for an end to Spanish rule in New Spain. He urged parishioners and townspeople to rise against colonial authorities, invoking both political and social grievances. The call sparked a mass uprising that swept across central Mexico and began the long Mexican War of Independence. Today, the date is commemorated as Mexico’s Independence Day, and the president reenacts the grito from the National Palace balcony each year.
Darwin Arrives in the Galápagos Islands Aboard HMS Beagle
On 16 September 1835, HMS Beagle reached the Galápagos Islands with young naturalist Charles Darwin on board. Over the next several weeks, Darwin would observe finches, tortoises, and other species whose subtle variations from island to island fascinated him. He carefully collected specimens and notes that he later reexamined back in England. Those observations became important building blocks for his theory of evolution by natural selection, articulated in “On the Origin of Species” more than two decades later.
New Zealand Grants Women the Right to Vote
On 16 September 1893, New Zealand’s governor Lord Glasgow signed the Electoral Act 1893, giving women the right to vote in parliamentary elections. The measure followed years of organizing led by suffragist Kate Sheppard and others, including massive petitions presented to Parliament. With the governor’s signature, New Zealand became the first self-governing country to establish universal female suffrage at the national level. The decision reverberated across the globe, offering a concrete example for suffrage movements in Britain, the United States, and elsewhere.
General Motors Company Is Founded in Detroit
On 16 September 1908, entrepreneur William C. Durant incorporated the General Motors Company in Detroit, Michigan. Durant initially built GM as a holding company around Buick, quickly adding other automakers and parts manufacturers to the fold. The consolidation aimed to stabilize the volatile early automobile market and create economies of scale in production and marketing. Over the 20th century, GM grew into one of the world’s largest industrial corporations, shaping car culture, suburban development, and labor relations in the United States and beyond.
Tanks Make Their Battlefield Debut on the Somme
On 16 September 1916, during the Battle of Flers–Courcelette on the Western Front, British Mark I tanks were used in combat for the first time. These armored vehicles crawled forward on caterpillar tracks, intended to crush barbed wire and withstand machine-gun fire. Mechanical breakdowns and difficult terrain limited their impact that day, and many failed to reach German lines. Even so, the appearance of tanks signaled a new chapter in warfare technology, prompting rapid development of armored forces by multiple nations in the years that followed.
Wall Street Bombing Rocks New York’s Financial District
On 16 September 1920, a horse-drawn wagon packed with explosives detonated at lunchtime near the J.P. Morgan building on Wall Street in New York City. The blast killed dozens of people and injured many more, shattering windows and scattering debris across the financial district. Authorities quickly suspected anarchist extremists, but no group was ever definitively proven responsible, and the case remains officially unsolved. The attack heightened fears about radical political violence in the United States during the turbulent years after World War I.
Birth of Blues Legend B.B. King
On 16 September 1925, Riley B. King, later known worldwide as B.B. King, was born near Itta Bena, Mississippi. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, he absorbed gospel and Delta blues before making his way to Memphis, where his expressive guitar style began to draw notice. With his beloved guitar “Lucille,” King developed a fluid, singing tone and vocal phrasing that influenced generations of rock and blues musicians. Over a long career, he became a global ambassador for the blues, touring relentlessly and earning the nickname “The King of the Blues.”
Columbia Phonograph Company Buys a Fledgling Radio Network
On 16 September 1927, the Columbia Phonograph Company purchased the struggling United Independent Broadcasters network, soon renaming it the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). The acquisition, orchestrated by William S. Paley, transformed a modest chain of stations into a national radio power. Paley invested in programming and talent, using compelling shows to attract advertisers and build listener loyalty. CBS went on to become a dominant force in American radio and later television, shaping entertainment, news, and cultural habits for decades.
Mahatma Gandhi Begins “Fast unto Death” in Yerwada Jail
On 16 September 1932, Mahatma Gandhi, imprisoned in Yerwada Jail near Pune, India, began a hunger strike against British plans for separate electorates for “Depressed Classes” (Dalits). Gandhi feared the proposal would deepen social divisions, while many Dalit leaders saw it as political recognition. His dramatic “fast unto death” drew intense attention across India and in Britain, prompting urgent negotiations among Hindu leaders. Within days, the parties reached the Poona Pact, modifying the electoral provisions and ending Gandhi’s fast, while leaving debates over caste and representation very much alive.
U.S. Enacts First Peacetime Military Draft
On 16 September 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act into law, creating the first peacetime conscription in United States history. With war raging in Europe and Asia, American leaders worried about the country’s small, underprepared armed forces. The act required eligible men to register for potential service and funded expanded training for the army. When the United States formally entered World War II the following year, the draft system became a central mechanism for rapidly building a mass military force.
Reza Shah of Iran Abdicates Under Allied Pressure
On 16 September 1941, Reza Shah Pahlavi of Iran abdicated the throne after Allied forces invaded the country during World War II. British and Soviet leaders, worried about his perceived tilt toward Germany and Iran’s strategic oil and supply routes, insisted that he step down. His son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was installed as the new shah, beginning a reign that would last until 1979. The forced abdication underscored Iran’s vulnerability to great-power politics and set the stage for decades of complicated relations with Western governments.
Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner Make Their Cartoon Debut
On 16 September 1949, Warner Bros. released the animated short “Fast and Furry-ous,” the first cartoon to feature Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. Directed by Chuck Jones, the film introduced the desert setting, frenetic chases, and elaborate failure-prone contraptions that would define the duo’s dynamic. Audiences quickly embraced the wordless physical comedy and the coyote’s indomitable, if misguided, persistence. Over time, the characters became staples of Saturday-morning television and global pop culture, inspiring countless parodies and homages.
IBM Unveils the 305 RAMAC, the First Commercial Disk Drive Computer
On 16 September 1956, IBM publicly introduced the 305 RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) system in San Jose, California. The machine featured the IBM 350 disk storage unit, widely recognized as the first commercial computer disk drive, using spinning magnetic disks instead of punch cards or tape for rapid data access. The cabinet-sized unit could store millions of characters, an impressive figure at the time, and allowed businesses to retrieve records much more flexibly. This step toward random-access storage laid groundwork for the hard drives and solid-state media that quietly power modern computing.
Formation of the Federation of Malaysia
On 16 September 1963, the Federation of Malaysia was formally created, bringing together Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and North Borneo (Sabah) into a single state. The merger followed years of negotiation as Britain prepared to wind down its colonial presence in Southeast Asia. While Singapore would leave the federation just two years later, the 1963 union reshaped regional politics and affirmed the independence of the new Malaysian nation. The date is now celebrated as Malaysia Day, distinct from the country’s earlier independence in 1957.
Papua New Guinea Becomes an Independent Nation
On 16 September 1975, Papua New Guinea achieved full independence from Australia, ending decades of colonial administration. A ceremonial handover in Port Moresby marked the transfer of authority, with Michael Somare becoming the country’s first prime minister. The new state had to knit together hundreds of linguistic and cultural groups across rugged terrain while building modern institutions almost from scratch. Independence Day is now a key national holiday, celebrated with singsings, flag-raisings, and displays of diverse traditional dress.
Opera Superstar Maria Callas Dies in Paris
On 16 September 1977, acclaimed soprano Maria Callas died of a heart attack in her Paris apartment at the age of 53. Born in New York to Greek parents and raised partly in Athens, Callas became renowned for her dramatic intensity, wide-ranging repertoire, and distinctive, emotionally charged voice. She revitalized interest in bel canto operas by composers like Bellini and Donizetti, bringing a fierce theatrical presence to the stage. Even amid personal scandals and vocal decline late in her career, her recordings and legendary performances continued to shape opera interpretation for later singers and directors.
Devastating Tabas Earthquake Strikes Eastern Iran
On 16 September 1978, a powerful earthquake struck near the town of Tabas in eastern Iran, leveling villages and causing extensive casualties. The main shock, with a magnitude estimated above 7, destroyed much of Tabas itself and damaged settlements across a wide area. Rescue efforts were hampered by remote locations and limited infrastructure, highlighting the vulnerability of rural communities to seismic disasters. The tragedy spurred discussions in Iran about building standards, emergency response, and the need for better earthquake preparedness in a geologically active region.
Killings Begin in Beirut’s Sabra and Shatila Camps
On 16 September 1982, militias allied with Israel entered the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in West Beirut, marking the start of a massacre that would last several days. The killings followed the assassination of newly elected Lebanese president Bashir Gemayel and occurred while Israeli forces controlled the surrounding area. Hundreds, and by many accounts more than a thousand, civilians were killed, drawing international outrage and condemnation. In Israel, the Kahan Commission later found the government indirectly responsible for failing to prevent the massacre, leading to high-profile resignations and intense public debate.
“Black Wednesday” Forces Britain Out of the ERM
On 16 September 1992, a day quickly dubbed “Black Wednesday,” intense currency speculation forced the United Kingdom to withdraw the pound sterling from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). Despite sharp interest-rate hikes and heavy intervention by the Bank of England, the government could not keep the pound within its agreed trading band. The episode damaged the credibility of Prime Minister John Major’s Conservative government and reshaped British debates about European integration. Economically, the pound’s subsequent float and devaluation opened the way for a more flexible monetary policy and, eventually, a period of growth.
Fantasy Author Robert Jordan Dies Before Finishing “The Wheel of Time”
On 16 September 2007, American writer Robert Jordan, born James Oliver Rigney Jr., died in Charleston, South Carolina, after battling a rare blood disease. Jordan was best known for his sprawling “Wheel of Time” series, an epic fantasy saga that began with “The Eye of the World” in 1990 and grew to millions of words and a devoted international readership. His death left the story unfinished, with fans anxious about its conclusion. Later, Brandon Sanderson, working from Jordan’s notes, completed the final volumes, turning the author’s vast imagined world into a multigenerational collaboration.
Mass Shooting at the Washington Navy Yard
On 16 September 2013, a gunman opened fire inside Building 197 at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., killing and wounding workers before being shot by police. The attack unfolded over several tense hours as law enforcement teams cleared the complex and searched for possible additional shooters. News coverage captured both the confusion of the unfolding situation and the anguish of families waiting for word. The tragedy renewed debate in the United States over workplace security, mental health, and access to firearms, as well as the safety of military and government facilities.