On This Day in History – September 16

Major Events

• 1400 — Welsh leader Owain Glyndŵr proclaims himself Prince of Wales, igniting a major revolt against English rule.
• 1620 — The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England, carrying Pilgrims bound for North America.
• 1810 — Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla issues the Grito de Dolores, launching Mexico’s War of Independence from Spain.
• 1908 — General Motors is founded in Flint, Michigan, by William C. Durant, setting the stage for a global auto giant.
• 1940 — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Selective Training and Service Act, America’s first peacetime draft.
• 1963 — Malaysia is formed as the Federation of Malaya unites with North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore (which leaves in 1965).
• 1975 — Papua New Guinea gains independence from Australia, becoming a sovereign nation in the Pacific.
• 1976 — Athlete Shavarsh Karapetyan leads a heroic rescue after a trolleybus plunges into a reservoir in Yerevan, saving dozens.
• 1978 — The Tabas earthquake strikes Iran, causing devastating loss of life and widespread destruction.
• 1987 — The Montreal Protocol is signed, committing nations to phase out ozone-depleting substances in a landmark environmental treaty.
• 1992 — “Black Wednesday” forces the United Kingdom to withdraw sterling from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, rattling currency markets.

Famous Birthdays

• Henry V (King of England, 1386–1422) — Victor at Agincourt and central figure of Shakespeare’s histories.
• Nadia Boulanger (French composer and teacher, 1887–1979) — Influential mentor to generations of 20th-century musicians.
• H. A. Rey (German-American author and illustrator, 1898–1977) — Co-creator of the Curious George books.
• Lauren Bacall (American actress, 1924–2014) — Golden Age film icon known for her smoky voice and poise.
• B. B. King (American blues musician, 1925–2015) — “King of the Blues,” famed for expressive guitar vibrato.
• Peter Falk (American actor, 1927–2011) — Beloved as the detective in the television series “Columbo.”
• Mickey Rourke (American actor, b. 1952) — Film star noted for intense, often gritty roles.
• David Copperfield (American magician, b. 1956) — Illusionist with record-setting live shows.
• Jennifer Tilly (American actress and poker player, b. 1958) — Academy Award nominee and WSOP bracelet winner.
• Amy Poehler (American comedian and actress, b. 1971) — Star of sketch and sitcom comedy.
• Marc Anthony (American singer and actor, b. 1968) — Best-selling salsa artist and Latin pop mainstay.
• Alexis Bledel (American actress, b. 1981) — Known for television and film roles with a strong cult following.

Notable Deaths

• Charles V of France (king) — Died 1380; born 1338.
• James II of England (king) — Died 1701; born 1633.
• Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (physicist, thermometer pioneer) — Died 1736; born 1686.
• Farinelli (Italian castrato singer) — Died 1782; born 1705.
• Louis XVIII of France (king) — Died 1824; born 1755.
• Peg Entwistle (Welsh-American actress) — Died 1932; born 1908.
• Jean Piaget (Swiss psychologist) — Died 1980; born 1896.
• Maria Callas (Greek-American soprano) — Died 1977; born 1923.
• Mary Travers (American singer, Peter, Paul and Mary) — Died 2009; born 1936.
• Edward Albee (American playwright) — Died 2016; born 1928.

Holidays

• Mexico — Independence Day.
• Malaysia — Malaysia Day.
• Papua New Guinea — Independence Day.
• International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer — United Nations observance.
• Mayflower Day — Observed by historical societies in the United States.

Fun Facts

• The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer falls on this date to commemorate the 1987 signing of the Montreal Protocol.
• The Mayflower’s departure on September 16 is remembered by some groups in the U.S. as Mayflower Day.
• Malaysia Day marks the formation of the federation in 1963, distinct from Malaysia’s Independence Day (celebrated on August 31).
• Papua New Guinea’s flag features a bird-of-paradise and the Southern Cross, reflecting both indigenous heritage and geography.
• “Black Wednesday” in 1992 remains one of the most studied episodes in modern currency-market history.