Also on This Day in History October 16
Discover what happened on October 16 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.
Births on This Day, October 16
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1886
David Ben-Gurion
Israeli politician, 1st Prime Minister of Israel
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1714
Giovanni Arduino
Italian geologist known as the father of Italian geology
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1708
Albrecht von Haller
Swiss experimental physiologist, biologist and author (Acadamy of Science),
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1948
Hema Malini
Indian Actress
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1758
Noah Webster
American lexicographer (Webster's Dictionary)
Deaths on This Day, October 16
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1998
Jon Postel
American computer scientist, Internet pioneer
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1793
John Hunter
Scottish surgeon and founder of pathological anatomy in England
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1981
Moshe Dayan
Israeli military leader and politician (Minister of Defense 1967-74)
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1982
Hans Selye
Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist
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2018
Berthold Leibinger
German entrepreneur (Trumpf) and philanthropist
1841
Queen's University is founded in the Province of Canada
Queen's University was founded in 1841 in Kingston, Province of Canada (now Ontario, Canada). It was established by a Royal Charter from Queen Victoria and originally named Queen's College. The university was founded with the aim of providing higher education in the arts and sciences, and it quickly grew in reputation and size.
1945
Food and Agriculture Organization established
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was established on October 16, 1945. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. FAO's headquarters are located in Rome, Italy, and its mandate includes conducting research, providing technical assistance, and setting international standards and policies related to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and sustainable development.
1964
First Chinese Nuclear Test
In October 1964, China conducted its first nuclear test, marking a significant milestone in its nuclear weapons development program. This event took place at the Lop Nur test site in the Xinjiang region of northwestern China. The test, code-named "596," made China the fifth country in the world to successfully develop and test a nuclear weapon, following the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France.
1995
The Skye Bridge in Scotland is opened for the first time
The Skye Bridge opened on 16 October 1995, connecting the Isle of Skye to the Scottish mainland. Prior to the bridge being built, crossings to Skye had been made by ferry, for at least 400 years. Proposals for a bridge had been made during the 19th century, as road and rail transport was developing, but the island's small population meant that the suggestion was never seriously considered.