On This Day: 16 April

16 April in Indian history

• 2001India and Bangladesh began a six-day conflict over their disputed border, which ended in a stalemate.India
• 1919Mohandas Gandhi organizes a day of "prayer and fasting" in response to the killing of Indian protesters in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British colonial troops three days earlier.India

16 April in world history

• 2018The New York Times and The New Yorker win the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for breaking news of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal.
• 2014The South Korean ferry MV Sewol capsizes and sinks near Jindo Island, killing 304 passengers and crew and leading to widespread criticism of the South Korean government, media, and shipping authorities.
• 2013A 7.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Sistan and Balochistan province, Iran, killing at least 35 people and injuring 117 others.
• 2008The U.S. Supreme Court rules in the Baze v. Rees decision that execution by lethal injection does not violate the Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment.
• 2007In one of the deadliest shooting incidents in United States history, a gunman killed 32 people and wounded over 20 more before committing suicide at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia.
• 1963In response to an open letter written by white clergymen, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail in defence of the strategy of nonviolent resistance against racism.
• 1945Second World War: British and Canadian forces concluded the Liberation of Arnhem in the Netherlands from German occupation.
• 1945World War II: The United States Army liberates Nazi Sonderlager (high security) prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C (better known as Colditz).
• 1941World War II: The Nazi-affiliated Ustaše is put in charge of the Independent State of Croatia by the Axis powers after Operation 25 is effected.
• 1922The Treaty of Rapallo, pursuant to which Germany and the Soviet Union re-establish diplomatic relations, is signed.
• 1919Polish–Soviet War: The Polish army launched the Vilna offensive to capture Vilnius (now in Lithuania) from the Red Army.
• 1917World War I: Several French army corps began a massive assault against the German-occupied Chemin des Dames ridge, south of Laon, France.
• 1917Russian Revolution: Vladimir Lenin returns to Petrograd, Russia, from exile in Switzerland.
• 1910The oldest indoor ice hockey arena used for the sport in the 21st century, Boston Arena, opens for the first time.
• 1799French Revolutionary Wars: Severely outnumbered French forces repulsed an Ottoman attack at the Battle of Mount Tabor in present-day Israel.
• 69After defeat by Vitellius' troops at Bedriacum, Roman emperor Otho killed himself.

Born on 16 April

• 1961Jarbom Gamlin, Indian lawyer and politician, seventh Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh (died 2014)India
• 1918Spike Milligan, Indian-Irish actor, comedian, and writer (died 2002)India
• 1916Behçet Necatigil, Turkish author, poet, and translator (died 1979)
• 1903Paul Waner, American baseball player and manager (died 1965)
• 1848Kandukuri Veeresalingam, Indian author and activist (died 1919)India
• 1786John Franklin, English admiral and politician, fourth Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land (died 1847)

Died on 16 April

• 1950Eduard Oja, Estonian composer, conductor, and critic (born 1905)
• 1899Emilio Jacinto, Filipino journalist and activist (born 1875)
• 1846Domenico Dragonetti, Italian bassist and composer (born 1763)
• 1689Aphra Behn, English author and playwright (born 1640)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 16 April in history?

2018: The New York Times and The New Yorker win the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for breaking news of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal. 2014: The South Korean ferry MV Sewol capsizes and sinks near Jindo Island, killing 304 passengers and crew and leading to widespread criticism of the South Korean government, media, and shipping authorities. 2013: A 7.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Sistan and Balochistan province, Iran, killing at least 35 people and injuring 117 others. 2008: The U.S. Supreme Court rules in the Baze v. Rees decision that execution by lethal injection does not violate the Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment.

What happened on 16 April in Indian history?

2001: India and Bangladesh began a six-day conflict over their disputed border, which ended in a stalemate. 1919: Mohandas Gandhi organizes a day of "prayer and fasting" in response to the killing of Indian protesters in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British colonial troops three days earlier.

Which famous people were born on 16 April?

Jarbom Gamlin, Indian lawyer and politician, seventh Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh (died 2014) (1961); Spike Milligan, Indian-Irish actor, comedian, and writer (died 2002) (1918); Behçet Necatigil, Turkish author, poet, and translator (died 1979) (1916); Paul Waner, American baseball player and manager (died 1965) (1903).

Which day is observed on 16 April?

Birthday of José de Diego (Puerto Rico, United States); Birthday of Queen Margrethe II (Denmark); Flag Day (Jordan); Emancipation Day (Washington, D.C., United States); Memorial Day for the Victims of the Holocaust (Hungary).