February 16

Monday 16, 1987:

The trial of John Demjanjuk, who was accused of being a Nazi guard dubbed "Ivan the Terrible" in Treblinka extermination camp, starts in Jerusalem.

Friday 16, 1940:

Altmark Incident: The German tanker Altmark, with 299 British prisoners, was boarded in neutral Norwegian waters by sailors from the British destroyer HMS Cossack and the prisoners set free, a breach of Norwegian neutrality at the beginning of World War II.

Tuesday 16, 1937:

Wallace H. Carothers receives a patent for nylon.

Monday 16, 1857:

The National Deaf Mute College (later renamed Gallaudet University) is established. in Washington, DC becoming the first school for the advanced education of the deaf.

Thursday 16, 1804:

First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate Philadelphia.