681day.year
Pope Honorius I is posthumously excommunicated by the Sixth Ecumenical Council.
In 681, the Sixth Ecumenical Council posthumously excommunicated Pope Honorius I for his perceived endorsement of Monothelitism.
In 681, church leaders convened in Constantinople for the Sixth Ecumenical Council to address the heresy of Monothelitism. Pope Honorius I, who had served from 625 to 638, was accused of tolerating this doctrine in his letters. The council retroactively condemned his writings and formally declared him excommunicated. This rare posthumous sanction marked him as the only pope to suffer such a fate. The decision highlighted the early church’s efforts to maintain theological unity. Honorius’s excommunication underscored the council’s authority and had lasting repercussions on the papacy’s doctrinal oversight.
681
Pope Honorius I
excommunicated
Sixth Ecumenical Council
1400day.year
Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers.
In 1400, Welsh rebels proclaimed Owain Glyndŵr as the Prince of Wales, igniting a national uprising against English rule.
On September 16, 1400, amid mounting resentment toward English dominance, Owain Glyndŵr’s supporters gathered at Glyndyfrdwy in northeast Wales to a bold declaration. They enthroned Glyndŵr as Prince of Wales, rallying thousands for a rebellion that would last over a decade. His charismatic leadership combined chivalric ideals with appeals to Welsh identity and rights. The revolt challenged King Henry IV’s authority and achieved several early military successes. Although ultimately quelled, Glyndŵr remains a symbol of Welsh nationalism and resilience. His proclamation on this day signaled a turning point in the long struggle for Welsh self-determination.
1400
Owain Glyndŵr
Prince of Wales
1620day.year
Pilgrims set sail for Virginia from Plymouth, England in the Mayflower.
In 1620, the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, carrying Pilgrims bound for the New World to seek religious freedom.
On September 16, 1620, a group of English Separatists known as the Pilgrims departed Plymouth, England aboard the Mayflower. They braved a perilous Atlantic crossing in search of a place to practice their faith freely. Their voyage took 66 days, navigating treacherous storms and limited provisions. The passengers included farmers, craftsmen, and their families aiming to establish a new settlement in Virginia. Though they landed at Cape Cod instead, their journey laid the foundation for Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower’s departure became an enduring symbol of courage, perseverance, and the quest for liberty.
1620
Pilgrims
Mayflower
1701day.year
James Francis Edward Stuart, sometimes called the "Old Pretender", becomes the Jacobite claimant to the thrones of England and Scotland.
In 1701, James Francis Edward Stuart, known as the 'Old Pretender,' claimed the thrones of England and Scotland as the Jacobite heir.
James Francis Edward Stuart, son of the deposed King James II of England and VII of Scotland, asserted his claim on September 16, 1701. With the support of Jacobite sympathizers, he styled himself as the rightful monarch despite living in exile in France. His pretensions sparked decades of conflict known as the Jacobite risings, which sought to restore the Stuart line. Although unsuccessful, these uprisings shaped British politics and inspired fierce loyalty among Highland clans. James’s claim symbolized the enduring struggle between parliamentary authority and hereditary right. His legacy influenced royalist literature and the romantic image of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
1701
James Francis Edward Stuart
Jacobite claimant
1732day.year
In Campo Maior, Portugal, a storm hits the Armory and a violent explosion ensues, killing two-thirds of its inhabitants.
In 1732, a violent explosion destroyed much of Campo Maior, Portugal, after a fierce storm struck the local armory.
A sudden storm battered the town of Campo Maior on September 16, 1732, unleashing torrential rains and fierce winds. Lightning struck the town’s armory, igniting thousands of gunpowder barrels stored within. The ensuing blast leveled buildings, killed hundreds of residents, and left the community in ruins. Two-thirds of the population perished, and survivors faced widespread devastation and grief. The disaster prompted investigations into armory safety and storage practices across Europe. Campo Maior slowly rebuilt, but the memory of that catastrophic day endured in local lore.
1732
Campo Maior, Portugal
1776day.year
American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Harlem Heights is fought.
During the American Revolutionary War on September 16, 1776, Continental forces won a morale-boosting victory at the Battle of Harlem Heights.
Following a series of setbacks around New York City, General George Washington’s Continental Army engaged British troops at Harlem Heights on September 16, 1776. The skirmish saw American sharpshooters and militia units harass British light infantry on the heights overlooking the Harlem River. A daring counterattack by the 1st Maryland Regiment and other Continental forces forced the British back in close-quarters combat. Though casualties were modest, the encounter restored American confidence after recent defeats. The victory demonstrated the growing discipline and resolve of Washington’s army. It became one of the first clear tactical successes for the fledgling United States.
1776
American Revolutionary War
Battle of Harlem Heights
1779day.year
American Revolutionary War: The Franco-American Siege of Savannah begins.
On September 16, 1779, French and American forces commenced the Siege of Savannah in a bold but ultimately failed attempt to recapture the city from the British.
In the autumn of 1779, Franco-American forces under Count d’Estaing and General Benjamin Lincoln embarked on a campaign to retake Savannah, Georgia. On September 16, the allied troops arrived and established siege lines around the fortified British-held city. They coordinated artillery bombardments aimed at weakening defenses and cutting supply routes. Despite early optimism and fierce fighting, miscommunication and logistical challenges hampered the siege. A frontal assault in October ended in heavy casualties and a British tactical victory. The failed operation underscored the complexities of coalition warfare and left Savannah in British hands until 1782.
1779
Siege of Savannah
1810day.year
With the Grito de Dolores, Father Miguel Hidalgo begins Mexico's fight for independence from Spain.
Father Miguel Hidalgo issued the Grito de Dolores on September 16, 1810, igniting Mexico’s struggle for independence from Spain.
In the small town of Dolores, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bell and delivered a fiery call to arms against Spanish colonial rule. On September 16, 1810, his proclamation—known as the Grito de Dolores—urged Mexicans to fight for freedom, unity, and land reform. The declaration sparked a popular uprising that rapidly spread across central Mexico. Peasants, indigenous communities, and discontented criollos rallied under Hidalgo’s banner, creating one of the first major rebellions in Latin America. Although Hidalgo’s campaign ended in his capture and execution in 1811, the movement it launched continued under other leaders. Mexico eventually secured independence in 1821, cementing September 16 as its national holiday.
1810
Grito de Dolores
Miguel Hidalgo
Mexico's fight for independence from Spain
1822day.year
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.
In 1822, Augustin-Jean Fresnel reported experimental proof of stress-induced birefringence, advancing the study of photoelasticity in optics.
On September 16, 1822, French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel presented to the Academy of Sciences a groundbreaking experiment on light behavior in stressed materials. Building on David Brewster’s hypothesis, Fresnel demonstrated that certain materials exhibit birefringence when under mechanical stress, a phenomenon later called photoelasticity. He detailed how polarized light split into two beams with different velocities, revealing internal stress patterns. This discovery not only confirmed theoretical predictions but also opened new methods for studying material properties. Photoelasticity became an essential tool in engineering and materials science for visualizing stress distribution. Fresnel’s work solidified his reputation as a leading pioneer in wave optics.
1822
Augustin-Jean Fresnel
Academy of Sciences
David Brewster
photoelasticity
birefringence
1863day.year
Robert College, in Istanbul, the first American educational institution outside the United States, is founded by Christopher Robert, an American philanthropist.
On September 16, 1863, Robert College opened in Istanbul as the first American educational institution established abroad.
Philanthropist Christopher Robert and missionary Cyrus Hamlin founded Robert College on September 16, 1863, overlooking the Bosphorus in Istanbul. It became the first American liberal arts college outside the United States, offering instruction in English to Christian and Muslim students alike. The institution aimed to promote intercultural dialogue, modern education, and scientific inquiry in the Ottoman Empire. Its campus quickly grew to include state-of-the-art facilities for science, literature, and the arts. Graduates of Robert College went on to become influential leaders in politics, diplomacy, and commerce across Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The college’s legacy endures today as part of Boğaziçi University in modern Turkey.
1863
Robert College
Istanbul
Christopher Robert
1880day.year
The Cornell Daily Sun prints its first issue in Ithaca, New York.
The Cornell Daily Sun publishes its first issue in Ithaca, New York, marking the birth of a storied college newspaper.
In September 1880, a group of Cornell University students launched The Cornell Daily Sun to provide an independent voice on campus. The inaugural issue featured local news, editorials, and updates on university life, reflecting the interests of the college community. Under the leadership of its founding editors, the paper quickly gained readership among students and faculty. Its establishment marked a significant moment in student journalism, empowering young writers to shape opinion. Over the decades, The Sun has chronicled campus events and national developments while serving as a training ground for future journalists. Today, it is recognized as one of the oldest continuously independent college newspapers in the United States.
1880
The Cornell Daily Sun
Ithaca, New York
1893day.year
Settlers make a land run for prime land in the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma.
In 1893, thousands of settlers participated in the famed Cherokee Strip land run, racing to stake claims on open Oklahoma territory.
On September 16, 1893, at the sound of a signal gun, approximately 100,000 settlers surged into the Cherokee Outlet in Oklahoma Territory in one of the largest land runs in U.S. history. Participants raced on horseback, in wagons, and on foot to claim plots of government land opened for settlement. The land run followed a lengthy legal struggle over the region reserved for the Cherokee Nation, and its opening reflected the federal government’s aggressive westward expansion policies. Many hopeful families endured harsh conditions and fierce competition to establish farms and ranches. The event profoundly reshaped Oklahoma’s demographic and economic landscape, leading to the rapid development of new towns and communities in the region.
1893
land run
Cherokee Strip
Oklahoma