Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
September 16 Wednesday, September 16, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 16 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
7
Holidays
US history 406 years ago
Pilgrims set sail for Virginia from Plymouth, England in the Mayflower.
The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England with 102 passengers, including English Separatists seeking religious freedom in the New World.
History
What happened on September 16
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 681Religion
Pope Honorius I is posthumously excommunicated by the Sixth Ecumenical Council.
Pope Honorius I is posthumously excommunicated for heresy by the Sixth Ecumenical Council.
- 1400UK history
Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers.
Owain Glyndŵr is proclaimed Prince of Wales by his supporters.
- 1620US history
Pilgrims set sail for Virginia from Plymouth, England in the Mayflower.
The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England with 102 passengers, including English Separatists seeking religious freedom in the New World.
- 1776War
American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Harlem Heights is fought.
Continental forces under George Washington achieve a morale-boosting victory against British troops in the Battle of Harlem Heights during the New York campaign.
- 1779War
American Revolutionary War: The Franco-American Siege of Savannah begins.
French and American forces launch a siege against British-held Savannah, Georgia, in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to recapture the strategic port city.
- 1822Science
French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel, in a "note" read to the Academy of Sciences, reports a direct refraction experiment verifying David Brewster's hypothesis that photoelasticity (as it is now known) is stress-induced birefringence.
Augustin-Jean Fresnel verifies David Brewster’s hypothesis on photoelasticity through a direct refraction experiment.
- 1863US history
Robert College, in Istanbul, the first American educational institution outside the United States, is founded by Christopher Robert, an American philanthropist.
Christopher Robert founds Robert College in Istanbul, establishing the first American educational institution outside the United States.
- 1961Technology
The United States National Hurricane Research Project drops eight cylinders of silver iodide into the eyewall of Hurricane Esther. Wind speed reduces by 10%, giving rise to Project Stormfury.
Scientists reduce Hurricane Esther's wind speed by 10% using silver iodide, marking the beginning of Project Stormfury.
- 1963World history
Malaysia is formed from the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak. However, Singapore is soon expelled from this new country.
Malaysia forms with the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak; however, Singapore is later expelled from the federation.
- 2004Disaster
Hurricane Ivan makes landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane.
Hurricane Ivan makes landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour.
- 2022World history
The death of Mahsa Amini occurred in Tehran, Iran, sparking worldwide protests.
Mahsa Amini's death in Tehran sparks global protests.
- 2022War
During the Let Yet Kone massacre, the Burmese military kills 13 villagers, including eight children, after attacking a school in Sagaing Region, Myanmar.
The Burmese military kills 13 villagers, including eight children, after attacking a school in Sagaing Region, Myanmar.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 16
7 this date All birthdays
Ursula Franklin
German-Canadian metallurgist
Ursula Martius Franklin, the German-Canadian metallurgist and physicist known for her writings on the political and social effects of technology, was born in 1921.
Born
1921
Died
2016
Henry St John
1st Viscount Bolingbroke, English philosopher and politician, Secretary of State for the Southern Department
1678 – 1751
Mikhail Kutuzov
Russian field marshal
1745 – 1813
Micky Stewart
English cricketer and coach
b. 1932 · 94
Elgin Baylor
American basketball player and coach
1934 – 2021
Fan Bingbing
Chinese actress, singer, and producer
b. 1981 · 45
Kyla Pratt
American actress and singer
b. 1986 · 40
Music
The number one songs on September 16
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 16, 1991
"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
by Bryan Adams
#1 for 16 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 2025"Golden"— Huntrix / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
- 2024"Taste"— Sabrina Carpenter
- 2023"Paint the Town Red"— Doja Cat
- 2022"B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All)"— Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal
- 2021"Bad Habits"— Ed Sheeran
- 2020"WAP"— Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport September 16, 1975
Muhammad Ali defeats Joe Frazier by technical knockout in the Thrilla in Manila
The third and final fight between Ali and Frazier took place in the Philippines. Frazier's trainer stopped the bout after the 14th round in one of boxing's most brutal championship matches.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 16, 2021
Inspiration4, the first private orbital crewed spaceflight, is launched from the Kennedy Space Center.
Inspiration4 launches from the Kennedy Space Center, marking the first all-civilian orbital mission.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Cry of Dolores, celebrates the declaration of independence of Mexico from Spain in 1810. See Fiestas Patrias
International
The Cry of Dolores occurred in Dolores, Mexico, on 16 September 1810, when Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang his church bell and gave the call to arms that triggered the Mexican War
Independence Day (Papua New Guinea), celebrates the independence of Papua New Guinea from Australia in 1975.
International
This is a list of holidays in Papua New Guinea
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
International
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated on September 16 designed by the United Nations General Assembly
Malaysian Armed Forces Day (Malaysia)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
Malaysia Day (Malaysia)
International
Malaysia Day is a public holiday observed nationwide on 16 September each year since 2010
Martyrs' Day (Libya)
International
Martyrs' Day are days observed in or by some countries, including the Albania, Burkina Faso, India, Myanmar, Panama and Tunisia, to recognise martyrs such as soldiers, revolutionaries or victims of ge
❝
Technology is not neutral. We're inside of what we make, and it's inside of us.
— Ursula Franklin · born September 16, 1921