It’s been a while since we’ve written one of these – but here’s a look back at this day in history. We’ve picked a variety of events, important births and deaths from through history. Have we missed anything out? Let us know by commenting below.
Events
1 BC – Wang Mang consolidates his power and is declared marshal of state. Emperor Ai of Han, who died the day prior, had no heirs.
1780 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Camden – The British defeat the Americans near Camden, South Carolina.
1812 – War of 1812: American General William Hull surrenders Fort Detroit without a fight to the British Army.
1858 – U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
1913 – Completion of the Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary.
1914 – World War I: Battle of Cer begins.
1944 – First flight of the Junkers Ju 287.
1954 – The first issue of Sports Illustrated is published.
1960 – Cyprus gains its independence from the United Kingdom.
1989 – A solar flare from the Sun creates a geomagnetic storm that affects micro chips, leading to a halt of all trading on Toronto’s stock market.
Births
1378 – Hongxi, Emperor of China
1682 – Louis, Dauphin of France, Duke of Burgundy
1845 – Gabriel Lippmann, French physicist
1888 – T. E. Lawrence, British Army soldier and writer
1912 – Ted Drake, English footballer
1933 – Stuart Roosa, American astronaut
1954 – James Cameron, Canadian film director, screenwriter, and producer
1958 – Madonna, American singer-songwriter, actress, producer, and director
Deaths
1791 – Charles-François de Broglie, marquis de Ruffec, French soldier and diplomat
1888 – John Pemberton, American chemist, inventor of Coca-Cola
1959 – William Halsey, Jr., American navy admiral
1977 – Elvis Presley, American singer, guitarist, and actor
Source:
http://joanallendetectors.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/on-this-day-in-history-16th-august/