December 16 in history — What Happened Today in History
Welcome to December 16 in history! Here you can discover what happened on December 16, including the major events, the famous people born on December 16 and the notable deaths on December 16, with the newest story starting in 2024.
On this page, December 16 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about December 16 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on December 16 in History 40
- 2024
The Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, takes place, resulting in the death of three people.
- 2022
A landslide occurs at a camp at an organic farm near the town of Batang Kali in Selangor, Malaysia, trapping 92 people and killing 31.
- 2014
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants attack an Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 150 people, 132 of them schoolchildren.
- 2013
A bus falls from an elevated highway in Manila, capital of the Philippines, killing at least 18 people with 20 injured.
- 2011
The Zhanaozen massacre occurs when violent protests by oil workers take place in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, resulting in security forces killing at least 14 and injuring 100 more.
- 1997
Dennō Senshi Porygon: Over 600 kids in Japan suffer photosensitive epileptic seizures after watching an episode of the Pokémon anime.
- 1992
Deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began deporting hundreds of Palestinians suspected to be members of Hamas across the Lebanese border.
- 1989
Romanian Revolution: Protests break out in Timișoara, Romania, in response to an attempt by the government to evict dissident Hungarian pastor László Tőkés.
- 1986
The Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR.
- 1973
Aeroflot Flight 2022 crashes in the Soviet Union's (now Russia) Volokolamsky District, killing all 51 aboard, including four Lithuanian doctors.
- 1972
The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is enacted.
- 1971
Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The surrender of the Pakistan Army brings an end to both conflicts. This is commemorated annually as Victory Day in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India respectively.
All entries for December 16（+28）
- 1971
The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain's independence, which is commemorated annually as Bahrain's National Day.
- 1968
Second Vatican Council: Official revocation of the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain.
- 1960
A United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground.
- 1951
A Miami Airlines Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in Elizabeth, New Jersey, killing all 58 aboard including dancer Doris Ruby.
- 1944
World War II: The Battle of the Bulge begins with the surprise offensive of three German armies through the Ardennes forest.
- 1942
The Holocaust: Schutzstaffel chief Heinrich Himmler orders that Roma candidates for extermination be deported to Auschwitz.
- 1920
The Haiyuan earthquake of 8.5Mw rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000.
- 1914
World War I: Admiral Franz von Hipper commands a raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby.
- 1912
First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy defeats the Ottoman Navy at the Battle of Elli.
- 1905
In rugby union, the "Match of the Century" is played between Wales and New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park.
- 1883
Tonkin Campaign: French forces capture the Sơn Tây citadel.
- 1882
Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match.
- 1880
Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire.
- 1864
American Civil War: The Battle of Nashville ends as the Union Army of the Cumberland under General George H. Thomas routs and destroys the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood, ending its effectiveness as a combat unit.
- 1863
American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints General Joseph E. Johnston to replace General Braxton Bragg as commander of the Army of Tennessee.
- 1850
The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand.
- 1838
Great Trek: Battle of Blood River: Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius and Sarel Cilliers defeat Zulu impis, led by Dambuza (Nzobo) and Ndlela kaSompisi in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- 1826
Benjamin W. Edwards rides into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, Texas, and declares himself ruler of the Republic of Fredonia.
- 1811
The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri.
- 1782
British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah.
- 1777
Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
- 1773
American Revolution: Boston Tea Party: Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dump hundreds of crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act.
- 1761
Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, the Russians under Pyotr Rumyantsev take the Prussian fortress of Kołobrzeg.
- 1707
The most recent eruption of Mount Fuji.
- 1689
Convention Parliament: The Declaration of Right is embodied in the Bill of Rights.
- 1653
English Interregnum: The Protectorate: Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
- 1598
Seven-Year War: Battle of Noryang: The final battle of the Seven-Year War is fought between the China and the Korean allied forces and Japanese navies, resulting in a decisive allied forces victory.
- 1575
An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.5Mw strikes Valdivia, Chile.
Famous Birthdays on December 16 in History 25
- 2001
Kai Cenat, American streamer
- 1998
Mira Antonitsch, Austrian tennis player
- 1998
Zhou Jieqiong, Chinese singer and actress
- 1997
Zara Larsson, Swedish singer and songwriter
- 1996
Wilfred Ndidi, Nigerian footballer
- 1996
Sergio Reguilón, Spanish footballer
- 1996
Henry Thornton, Australian cricketer
- 1994
Nigel Hayes, American basketball player
- 1994
Nicola Murru, Italian footballer
- 1994
José Rodríguez, Spanish footballer
- 1993
Jyoti Amge, Indian actress
- 1993
Stephan James, Canadian actor
All entries for December 16（+13）
- 1992
Anamul Haque, Bangladeshi cricketer
- 1992
Tom Rogic, Australian footballer
- 1991
Craig Goodwin, Australian footballer
- 1991
David Johnson, American football player
- 1988
Mats Hummels, German footballer
- 1988
Anna Popplewell, English actress
- 1988
Alexey Shved, Russian basketball player
- 1986
Alcides Escobar, Venezuelan baseball player
- 1986
Pärt Uusberg, Estonian actor, composer, and conductor.
- 1985
Stanislav Manolev, Bulgarian footballer
- 1985
James Nash, English race car driver
- 1985
Amanda Setton, American actress
- 1984
Theo James, English actor
Notable Deaths on December 16 in History 25
- 2025
Lusanda Dumke, South African professional rugby union player who played as a flanker (born 1996)
- 2024
Dick Van Arsdale, American basketball player (born 1943)
- 2024
Tulsi Gowda, Indian environmentalist (born 1937/1938)
- 2023
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait (born 1937)
- 2017
Keely Smith, American singer and actress (born 1928)
- 2015
Peter Dickinson, Rhodesian-English author and poet (born 1927)
- 2015
Lizmark, Mexican wrestler (born 1950)
- 2015
George Earl Ortman, American painter and sculptor (born 1926)
- 2014
Martin Brasier, English paleontologist, biologist, and academic (born 1947)
- 2014
Tim Cochran, American mathematician and academic (born 1955)
- 2014
Tahira Qazi, Pakistani educationist and principal of Army Public School Peshawar who was killed in the Peshawar school attack.
- 2013
James Flint, English commander (born 1913)
All entries for December 16（+13）
- 2013
Ray Price, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1926)
- 2013
Marta Russell, American journalist, author, and activist (born 1951)
- 2012
Elwood V. Jensen, American biologist and academic (born 1920)
- 2012
Jake Adam York, American poet and academic (born 1972)
- 2011
Robert Easton, American actor and screenwriter (born 1930)
- 2011
Nicol Williamson, Scottish actor (born 1938)
- 2010
Melvin E. Biddle, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1923)
- 2010
Ayinde Barrister, Nigerian fuji musician (born 1948)
- 2009
Roy E. Disney, American businessman (born 1930)
- 2009
Yegor Gaidar, Russian economist and politician, Prime Minister of Russia (born 1956)
- 2009
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, South African physician and politician, 22nd South African Minister of Health (born 1940)
- 2007
Dan Fogelberg, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1951)
- 2006
Don Jardine, Canadian wrestler and trainer (born 1940)
That is the story of December 16 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on December 16 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on December 16 in history?
The biggest event on December 16 in history is: 2024 — The Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, takes place, resulting in the death of three people.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on December 16?
25 famous people were born on December 16 in history, the best known being 2001 — Kai Cenat, American streamer.
Who died on December 16?
25 notable people died on December 16 in history, including 2025 — Lusanda Dumke, South African professional rugby union player who played as a flanker (born 1996).
Why should I read about December 16 in history?
Exploring December 16 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
Browse the December calendar
Take a random trip through time
What happened on your birthday?
Enter your date of birth and travel back to the day you were born.