1582day.year
Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma founds the settlement of Salta, Argentina.
Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma founded the settlement of Salta in present-day Argentina in 1582.
Named 'Salta la Linda' for its picturesque setting, the town became a key colonial outpost in the Alto Perú trade routes. Lerma chose the location for its fertile valleys and access to the Lerma River. Salta grew as a center of agriculture, livestock, and regional governance under Spanish rule. Its foundation laid the groundwork for a city that remains important in northwestern Argentina. Today, Salta is celebrated for its colonial architecture and Andean culture.
1582
conquistador
Hernando de Lerma
Salta
1780day.year
Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg founds the University of Münster.
Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg founded the University of Münster in 1780.
Established by papal and imperial decree, the university aimed to advance theology, law, and the sciences. Fürstenberg’s vision was to modernize education in the Prince-Bishopric of Münster. The new institution attracted scholars from across Europe and became a center of Enlightenment thought. Over the centuries, it expanded into a major public research university. Today, it is known for its strong programs in humanities, natural sciences, and law.
1780
Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg
University of Münster
1862day.year
American Civil War: The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, a bill ending slavery in the District of Columbia, becomes law.
The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act becomes law, abolishing slavery and compensating former owners in the U.S. capital.
Signed by President Abraham Lincoln on April 16, 1862, the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act freed nearly 3,100 enslaved individuals in the nation’s capital. Slaveholders received up to $300 per person as compensation, funded by the federal government. The act represented a cautious yet significant step toward broader emancipation policies during the Civil War. It also provided freed individuals with the opportunity to claim U.S. citizenship and receive up to $100 to aid their transition to freedom. This landmark legislation foreshadowed the Emancipation Proclamation and underscored the moral and political stakes of ending slavery in America.
District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act
slavery in the District of Columbia
1881day.year
In Dodge City, Kansas, Bat Masterson fights his last gun battle.
Legendary lawman Bat Masterson participates in his final frontier gunfight in Dodge City, Kansas, closing a dramatic chapter in his career.
Bat Masterson, famed for his role as a buffalo hunter, lawman, and gambler, faced off in his last recorded gunfight in Dodge City on April 16, 1881. During a tense confrontation at a saloon, Masterson drew his pistol to subdue rowdy cowboys threatening local patrons. Though details remain sparse, the encounter ended without fatalities, and Masterson maintained order. This event symbolized the waning era of the Wild West as towns became more regulated and law enforcement professionalized. Masterson’s later life would pivot to journalism and sportswriting in New York City.
1881
Dodge City, Kansas
Bat Masterson
1919day.year
Mohandas Gandhi organizes a day of "prayer and fasting" in response to the killing of Indian protesters in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British colonial troops three days earlier.
Mohandas Gandhi called for a nationwide day of prayer and fasting on April 16, 1919, in protest of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
In response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919, Mohandas K. Gandhi organized a nationwide day of prayer and fasting on April 16. He urged Indians to unite in peaceful protest against British colonial brutality, marking an early example of his satyagraha philosophy. Thousands participated in silent vigils and prayer meetings, reflecting on moral and political dimensions of India’s independence struggle. The day of fasting galvanized public sentiment and drew international attention to colonial abuses. Gandhi’s leadership during this campaign laid the foundation for future nonviolent resistance movements in India.
1919
Mohandas Gandhi
Jallianwala Bagh massacre
1963day.year
U.S. civil rights campaigner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writes his open letter from Birmingham Jail, sometimes known as "The Negro Is Your Brother", while incarcerated in Birmingham, Alabama, for protesting against segregation.
On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. penned his powerful 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' defending civil disobedience.
Imprisoned for protesting segregation, King responded to local clergy who called for patience and negotiation.
He eloquently argued that individuals have a moral duty to disobey unjust laws.
King outlined the four basic steps of a nonviolent campaign: collection of facts, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action.
His letter drew on historical and philosophical references to justify civil rights struggles.
It quickly circulated nationwide, strengthening the momentum of the American civil rights movement.
Today it stands as a seminal text on justice, equality, and peaceful protest.
1963
Martin Luther King Jr.
letter from Birmingham Jail
Birmingham, Alabama
2014day.year
The South Korean ferry MV Sewol capsizes and sinks near Jindo Island, killing 304 passengers and crew and leading to widespread criticism of the South Korean government, media, and shipping authorities.
On April 16, 2014, the South Korean ferry MV Sewol capsized near Jindo Island, resulting in 304 deaths and nationwide outrage.
The passenger ferry MV Sewol departed from Incheon en route to Jeju Island when it capsized and sank off Jindo Island's coast on April 16, 2014. Most of the 476 passengers were high school students on a field trip. Over 300 passengers and crew perished, many trapped inside the overturned vessel. Rescue operations were hampered by strong currents and delayed government response, drawing sharp criticism. The tragedy ignited public anger over maritime safety standards and regulatory oversight. The incident led to resignations of government officials, legal prosecutions of the ferry's operators, and reforms in emergency protocols. Sewol remains a poignant memory in South Korea's collective consciousness.
2014
South Korean
MV Sewol
capsizes and sinks
Jindo Island
2018day.year
The New York Times and the New Yorker win the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for breaking news of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal.
In 2018, The New York Times and The New Yorker are awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for their groundbreaking investigation into Harvey Weinstein's sexual abuse allegations.
On April 16, 2018, The New York Times and The New Yorker received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in recognition of their courageous and comprehensive reporting on the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal. Their investigation uncovered decades of allegations against the Hollywood producer, sparking global outrage and galvanizing the #MeToo movement. Journalists spent months interviewing survivors, examining court documents, and confronting powerful institutions that had shielded Weinstein. The stories led to Weinstein's criminal prosecution and inspired a broader reckoning across industries. This landmark reporting highlighted the vital role of investigative journalism in holding the powerful accountable and protecting vulnerable communities.
2018
The New York Times
New Yorker
Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal