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On this day in history - April 16

What Happened On This Day – April 16

  • 2012 The trial of Anders Behring Breivik begins in Oslo

    The right-wing extremist had killed 77 people, mostly teenagers, in Oslo with a car bomb and at a youth camp on Utøya island. After doubts about his mental health emerged before the trial, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

  • 2003 Ten new member states are admitted to the European Union

    The Treaty of Accession admitted countries including Poland, Cyprus, and the Czech Republic to the EU. Its original title contains 99 words.

  • 1964 The Rolling Stones release their debut album

    The album The Rolling Stones, released in the United States with the added title “England's Newest Hit Makers”, topped the UK charts for twelve weeks.

  • 1917 Vladimir Lenin returns to Russia from exile

    The communist revolutionary became leader of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (SFSR) later that year. From 1922, he was the first Premier of the Soviet Union.

  • 1912 Harriet Quimby flies across the English Channel

    The U.S. aviator was the first woman who achieved this feat. She died at the age of 37 when her plane crashed in Massachusetts.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
April 16

  • 1939 Dusty Springfield

    English singer, producer

  • 1927 Pope Benedict XVI

  • 1918 Spike Milligan

    Indian/Irish actor, singer, screenwriter, author

  • 1896 Tristan Tzara

    Romanian/French poet, critic

  • 1889 Charlie Chaplin

    English actor, director, producer, screenwriter, composer

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
April 16

  • 1958 Rosalind Franklin

    English scientist

  • 1879 Bernadette Soubirous

    French mystic, saint

  • 1859 Alexis de Tocqueville

    French historian, scientist

  • 1850 Marie Tussaud

    French sculptor, founded Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

  • 1828 Francisco Goya

    Spanish painter