March 16

Saturday 16, 2880:

The predicted closest approach to Earth of near-Earth object (29075) 1950 DA which might impact Earth.

Thursday 16, 2006:

2006 - On March 16th, Final Fantasy XII will be released in Japan. At least it's getting closer. Hopefully it will be released around Q3/Q4 in the US.

Sunday 16, 2003:

Largest coordinated worldwide vigil, as part of the global protests against war on Iraq.

Saturday 16, 2002:

Closing ceremonies of the Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Sunday 16, 1997:

Stuart Appleby wins the Honda Golf Classic.

Wednesday 16, 1994:

Tonya Harding pleads guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution for trying to cover-up an attack on figure skating rival Nancy Kerrigan.

Tuesday 16, 1993:

A blizzard on the east coast of the United States kills 184 (see Great Blizzard of 1993).

Wednesday 16, 1988:

Halabja poison gas attack: The Kurdish town of Halabjah in Iraq was attacked with a mix of poison gas and nerve agents, killing thousands of people.

Saturday 16, 1985:

Associated Press newsman Terry Anderson is taken hostage in Beirut. He would be released on December 4, 1991.

Friday 16, 1984:

William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, Lebanon, is kidnapped by Islamic fundamentalists and later dies in captivity.

Wednesday 16, 1983:

Demolition of the radio tower Ismaning, the last radio tower in Germany built of wood.

Thursday 16, 1978:

Aldo Moro is kidnapped by left-wing urban guerrillas in Italy and is later killed by his captors.

Thursday 16, 1972:

The first building of the Pruitt-Igoe housing complex is demolished.

Sunday 16, 1969:

A Venezuelan Airlines DC-9 crashes shortly after takeoff in Maracaibo, Venezuela killing 155

Saturday 16, 1968:

Vietnam War: In the My Lai massacre, between 350 and 500 Vietnamese villagers -- men, women, and children -- are killed by American troops.

Friday 16, 1962:

A Flying Tiger Line Super Constellation disappears in the western Pacific Ocean, with 107 people missing.

Friday 16, 1956:

1956 - St. Urho's Day is first celebrated.

Friday 16, 1945:

Würzburg, Germany is 90% destroyed, with 5,000 dead, in only 20 minutes by British bombers.

Saturday 16, 1935:

Adolf Hitler orders Germany to rearm herself in violation of the Versailles Treaty.

Tuesday 16, 1926:

Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket, at Auburn, Massachusetts.

Friday 16, 1900:

Sir Arthur Evans purchases the land around the ruins of Knossos, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete.

Saturday 16, 1872:

The Wanderers F.C. won the first FA Cup, the oldest football competition in the world, beating Royal Engineers A.F.C. 1-0 at The Oval in Kennington, London.

Saturday 16, 1867:

First publication of an article by Joseph Lister outlining the discovery of antiseptic surgery, in The Lancet.

Saturday 16, 1861:

Edward Clark became Governor of Texas, replacing Sam Houston, who was evicted from the office for refusing to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy.

Saturday 16, 1850:

Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter is first published.

Thursday 16, 1815:

Prince Willem of the House of Orange-Nassau proclaimed himself King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the first constitutional monarch in the Netherlands.

Tuesday 16, 1802:

The United States Military Academy West Point is established.

Friday 16, 1792:

King Gustav III of Sweden is shot; he dies on March 29.

Tuesday 16, 1660:

The Long Parliament disbands.

Tuesday 16, 1621:

Samoset, a Mohegan, visits the settlers of Plymouth Colony and greets them, "Welcome, Englishmen! My name is Samoset."

Wednesday 16, 1521:

Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Philippines.

Friday 16, 1190:

Crusaders start to massacre the Jews of York.

More on March, 16

• People Born on March, 16
• They left us on March, 16