Today In History [August 15, 2016]

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.

Today in History

August 16

1513		Henry VIII of England and Emperor Maximilian defeat the French at Guinegatte, France, in the Battle of the Spurs.
1777		France declares a state of bankruptcy.
1780		American troops are badly defeated by the British at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina.
1812		American General William Hull surrenders Detroit without resistance to a smaller British force under General Issac Brock.
1858		U.S. President James Buchanan and Britain’s Queen Victoria exchange messages inaugurating the first transatlantic telegraph line.
1861		Union and Confederate forces clash near Fredericktown and Kirkville, Missouri.
1863		Union General William S. Rosecrans moves his army south from Tullahoma, Tennessee to attack Confederate forces in Chattanooga.
1896		Gold is discovered in the Klondike of Canada’s Yukon Territory, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.
1914		Liege, Belgium, falls to the German army.
1945		Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright, who was taken prisoner by the Japanese on Corregidor on May 6, 1942, is released from a POW camp in Manchuria by U.S. troops.
1965		The Watts riots end in south-central Los Angeles after six days.
1977		Elvis Presley dies of a heart attack in the upstairs bedroom suite area of his Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.
1984		The safe of the sunken ocean liner Andrea Doria is opened on TV after three decades, revealing cash and certificates but no other valuables.
1986		Sudanese rebels shoot down a Sudanese Airways plane, killing 57 people.
1987		Astrological alignment of sun, moon and six planets marks what believers maintain is the dawning of a New Age.
1988		IBM introduces artificial intelligence software.
1990		Iraq orders 2,500 Americans and 4,000 British nationals in Kuwait to Iraq, in the aftermath of Iraq’s invasion of that country.
2012		In South Africa police fire on striking mine workers, killing at least 34.
Born on August 16
1645		Jean de la Bruyere, French writer and moralist famous for his work Characters of Theophratus.
1868		Bernard McFadden, publisher responsible for the magazine True Story.
1913		Menachem Begin, Israeli statesman and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
1920		Charles Bukowski, poet and novelist.
1929		Bill Evans, jazz pianist.
1930		Ted Hughes, English poet.
1940		Bruce Beresford, Australian film director whose films include Breaker Morant and Driving Miss Daisy.
1945		Suzanne Farrel, ballerina.
1958		Madonna [Louise Veronica Ciccone], entertainer and singer.
1960		Timothy Hutton, youngest actor ever to receive an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (Ordinary People).
1962		Steve Carell, actor and comedian (The Daily Show with John Stewart, The Office, Evan Almighty).
1967		Ulrika Jonsson, Swedish-born actress, model and UK television personality.
1972		Emily Robison, singer, musician, songwriter, member of the bestselling Country group Dixie Chicks.