May 16 Events In History

EVENTS

• 1862 – During the American Civil War, Union General Benjamin Butler, military governor of New Orleans, issued his “Woman Order” declaring that any Southern woman showing disrespect for Union soldiers or the U.S. would be regarded as a woman of the town, or prostitute. This and other controversial acts by Butler set the stage for his dismissal as military governor in December 1862.
• 1866 – Charles Elmer Hires invents root beer.
• 1866 – The five cent piece, or nickel, is introduced.
• 1919 – Albert Cushing Read takes off on the first transatlantic flight in history. The crossing from New York State, USA, to Lisbon, Portugal on a Curtiss NC-4 flying boat took 19 days.
• 1929 – The first Academy Awards are handed out in Hollywood, California.

  

• 1960 – Theodore Maiman fires the first functional laser. The American physicist’s invention, an advancement of earlier research by scientists in the U.S. and the Soviet Union, was patented in 1967.
• 1966 – In China, the Cultural Revolution begins. The publication of the May 16 notification marks the beginning of the political campaign, which was initiated by Mao Zedong and lasted ten years. Its objective was to strengthen communism by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from Chinese society.
• 1975 – Junko Tabei becomes the first woman to conquer Mount Everest. The ascent by the Japanese adventurer came 22 years after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to reach the summit.
• 2002 – Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones opens

BIRTHDAYS

• 1801 – William Seward (Purchased Alaska from Russia)
• 1831 – David Edward Hughes (Welsh/American scientist, co-invented the microphone)
• 1905 – Henry Fonda (American actor, singer, producer)

  

• 1919 – Liberace (Piano player)
• 1953 – Pierce Brosnan (Actor)
• 1966 – Thurman Thomas (Football Player)
• 1966 – Janet Jackson (Singer)
• 1971 – David Boreanaz (Actor)
• 1973 – Tori Spelling (Actress)
• 1984 – Megan Fox (Actress)

DEATHS

• 1953 – Django Reinhardt (Belgian guitarist, composer)
• 1977 – Modibo Keïta (Malian politician, 1st President of Mali)
• 1990 – Sammy Davis, Jr. (American actor, singer, dancer)

  

• 1990 – Jim Henson (American puppeteer, director, producer, founded The Company)
• 2012 – Maria Bieşu (Moldovan opera singer)