August 16 in History
August 16 is the birthday of Jannik Sinner (2001) and the anniversary of the death of Hayden Panettiere (2026). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for August 16, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster was born in 1355, while Empress Ma, Chinese Han dynasty consort died in AD 79.
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Famous people born on August 16
Famous people who died on August 16
2019
Richard Williams (animator) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Canadian and British animator (1933–2019)
2018
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Prime Minister of India (1996; 1998–99, 1999–2004)
2016
João Havelange (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Brazilian businessman, athlete and football administrator (1916–2016)
2016
John McLaughlin (host) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American journalist and political commentator (1927–2016)
2013
David Rees (mathematician) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
David Rees, Welsh mathematician and academic (born 1918)
2012
Abune Paulos (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church from 1992 to 2012
What happened on August 16
- 2020
The August Complex fire in California burns more than one million acres of land.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2015
More than 96 people are killed and hundreds injured following a series of air-raids by the Syrian Arab Air Force on the rebel-held market town of Douma.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2015
Trigana Air Flight 267, an ATR 42, crashes in Oksibil, Bintang Mountains Regency, killing all 54 people on board.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2013
The ferry St. Thomas Aquinas collides with a cargo ship and sinks at Cebu, Philippines, killing 61 people with 59 others missing.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2012
South African police fatally shoot 34 miners and wound 78 more during an industrial dispute at Marikana near Rustenburg.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2010
AIRES Flight 8250 crashes at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia, killing two people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2008
The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago is topped off at 1,389 feet (423 m), at the time becoming the world's highest residence above ground-level.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2005
West Caribbean Airways Flight 708, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes in Machiques, Venezuela, killing all 160 people on board.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
Indian Airlines Flight 257, a Boeing 737-200, crashes during approach to Imphal Airport, killing all 69 people on board.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1989
A solar particle event affects computers at the Toronto Stock Exchange, forcing a halt to trading.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1987
Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes after takeoff in Detroit, Michigan, killing 154 of the 155 on board, plus two people on the ground.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1986
A Sudan Airways Fokker F27 Friendship is shot down near Malakal in present day South Sudan, killing 60.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1975
Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam symbolically hands over land to the Gurindji people after the eight-year Wave Hill walk-off, a landmark event in the history of Indigenous land rights in Australia, commemorated in a 1991 song by Paul Kelly and an annual celebration.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1972
In an unsuccessful coup d'état attempt, the Royal Moroccan Air Force fires upon Hassan II of Morocco's plane while he is traveling back to Rabat.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1966
Vietnam War: The House Un-American Activities Committee begins investigations of Americans who have aided the Viet Cong. The committee intends to introduce legislation making these activities illegal. Anti-war demonstrators disrupt the meeting and 50 people are arrested.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on August 16
- 1355 — Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster (died 1382)
- 1378 — Hongxi Emperor of China (died 1425)
- 1401 — Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut (died 1436)
Died on August 16
- AD 79 — Empress Ma, Chinese Han dynasty consort (born 40)
- 856 — Theutbald I, bishop of Langres
- 963 — Marianos Argyros, Byzantine general (born 944)
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for August 16
Quick answers
Who was born on August 16? Jannik Sinner (2001), Karen Chen (1999), Greyson Chance (1997).
Who died on August 16? Hayden Panettiere (2026), Howard S. Becker (2023), Sean Lock (2021).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in August? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the August 16 historical article above.
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