1620: The Mayflower begins its historic voyage

On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower departed England carrying a group of English settlers who intended to establish a new community in North America. Historical records traditionally place the departure from Plymouth on this date, with the ship carrying roughly 100 passengers and a crew.

The voyage became one of the most discussed episodes in early American colonial history. After a difficult Atlantic crossing, the ship reached the New England coast later that year. The settlement that followed became part of the history of the Plymouth Colony and eventually entered the broader story of European colonisation in North America.

The legacy of the Mayflower is complex. While it represents religious migration and the establishment of a new settlement for many historians, its story also belongs to the larger history of Indigenous displacement, colonial expansion and cultural conflict.

1810: Mexico’s independence movement begins

September 16 is one of the most important dates in Mexican history because it marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence.

In 1810, Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called on Mexicans to rise against Spanish colonial rule. His action became associated with the “Grito de Dolores,” or Cry of Dolores, and September 16 subsequently became Mexico’s Independence Day.

The date acquired enormous political and cultural importance. Historical documents from the period show that September 16 was already being commemorated as the anniversary of independence during the 19th century.

The struggle itself lasted for years before Mexico achieved independence in 1821. Today, September 16 remains one of Mexico’s principal national celebrations.

1863: Robert College opens in Constantinople

September 16 also has a place in educational history.

In 1863, Robert College opened in Constantinople, now Istanbul, with four students. A historical account of the institution records that the college opened on September 16 at Bebek, with two professors and a small group of students.

The institution became an important centre of higher education in the Ottoman Empire and later in the Republic of Turkey. Its history illustrates how educational institutions can survive political transformation and continue influencing generations of students.

The opening is particularly notable because it represented the development of an American-founded institution of higher education outside the United States during the 19th century.

1908: General Motors is founded

One of the most consequential corporate events associated with September 16 occurred in 1908.

General Motors was incorporated on September 16, 1908, in Flint, Michigan. The company was created under the leadership of William C. Durant, initially bringing Buick and Oldsmobile together under a larger corporate structure.

The concept was significant because the automobile industry was still young. Instead of operating as a single-car manufacturer, the new company pursued a strategy of bringing multiple automobile brands under one corporate organisation.

GM later expanded dramatically, acquiring companies including Cadillac and other automobile businesses. Its history became closely linked with the growth of mass automobile manufacturing, industrial employment and transportation in the United States and beyond.

More than a century later, September 16 remains an important anniversary for the company.

1920: The Wall Street bombing shocks New York

Not every September 16 milestone represents progress.

On September 16, 1920, a bomb exploded in New York City’s financial district near the J.P. Morgan building. The attack killed 38 people and injured hundreds more. The perpetrators were never definitively identified.

The bombing became one of the most notorious acts of political violence in the United States during the early 20th century. Authorities suspected anarchists, but the mystery surrounding the perpetrators remained unresolved.

The event also demonstrated the vulnerability of financial and commercial centres to political violence at a time when New York was becoming increasingly important to the global economy.

1955: Argentina enters a period of political upheaval

On September 16, 1955, a military uprising against Argentine President Juan Perón began.

The revolt eventually forced Perón from power and opened another turbulent period in Argentina’s political history. The episode demonstrated the instability surrounding the country’s political institutions during the middle decades of the 20th century.

The events of September 1955 would have consequences for Argentina’s political development for years, including periods of military rule, political conflict and struggles over the country’s future direction.

1955: A new era in missile technology

September 16, 1955 also witnessed an important development in military technology.

A Soviet Zulu-class submarine became the first submarine reported to launch a ballistic missile. The development represented an important stage in the evolution of submarine-based nuclear deterrence.

The combination of submarines, long-range missiles and nuclear weapons subsequently became one of the central components of Cold War military strategy.

The achievement was therefore technological, but its significance extended far beyond engineering into international security and geopolitics.

1959: The Xerox 914 changes office technology

Technology took another major step on September 16, 1959, when the Xerox 914 plain-paper copier was introduced at an event in New York.

The machine became an important milestone in office technology because it allowed documents to be copied rapidly onto ordinary paper. Contemporary historical accounts identify the Xerox 914 as the first successful commercial plain-paper copier.

The significance of the machine went beyond photocopying. Easy document reproduction transformed offices, schools, government departments, libraries, businesses and eventually everyday personal communication.

The development helped turn copying from a specialised process into an ordinary part of modern office life.

1963: Malaysia is formed

September 16, 1963 marked the creation of Malaysia.

The new federation brought together Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak, with Singapore initially included in the federation. Official Malaysian historical material records September 16, 1963, as the date on which the formation of Malaysia was proclaimed.

Singapore subsequently separated from Malaysia and became an independent country in 1965.

The formation of Malaysia represented a major political transformation in Southeast Asia and established a federation whose development would become an important part of the region’s modern history.

1968: Jimi Hendrix releases Electric Ladyland

September 16 is also an important date in popular music.

On this day in 1968, The Jimi Hendrix Experience released Electric Ladyland in the United States. The album became one of the defining recordings associated with Hendrix’s career and the late-1960s rock revolution.

The double album included songs such as “All Along the Watchtower,” “Voodoo Chile” and “Crosstown Traffic.” Hendrix’s experimentation with guitar effects, studio production and psychedelic rock helped establish the album as a major work in the history of recorded music.

Its release demonstrated how the recording studio itself was increasingly becoming an instrument for artistic experimentation.

1975: Papua New Guinea becomes independent

September 16, 1975 was a historic day for Papua New Guinea.

The country achieved independence from Australia on this date after a period of increasing self-government. The United Nations records that Papua New Guinea subsequently joined the organisation on October 10, 1975.

Independence marked the birth of a modern sovereign state encompassing one of the world’s most culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

The country’s independence story is an important example of the transition from colonial administration to national sovereignty in the Pacific.

1976: A remarkable act of rescue in Armenia

September 16, 1976, produced an extraordinary story of courage.

Armenian swimmer Shavarsh Karapetyan rescued people after a trolleybus plunged into a reservoir in Yerevan. Historical accounts credit him with saving numerous passengers from the submerged vehicle.

Karapetyan’s actions became one of the most famous rescue stories associated with an athlete. His achievement was not a sporting victory but an act of personal courage in which athletic ability was used to save lives.

1978: The Tabas earthquake devastates Iran

September 16, 1978 became one of the darkest dates in Iranian natural-disaster history.

A powerful earthquake struck the city of Tabas and surrounding areas in Iran. Historical estimates of the death toll vary, but thousands of people were killed, with some sources placing the figure above 11,000 and others around 15,000.

The disaster destroyed homes and infrastructure and demonstrated the enormous human consequences of earthquakes in vulnerable communities.

For Iran, the Tabas earthquake became a major reference point in the country’s history of earthquake preparedness and disaster response.

1982: The Sabra and Shatila massacre

September 16, 1982 marked the beginning of the killings at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon.

The massacre occurred during the Lebanon War and became one of the most painful episodes in the region’s modern history. Estimates of the number of victims vary considerably, and the killings continued over several days.

The event generated international outrage and became the subject of extensive investigations and political controversy.

It remains a reminder that September 16’s historical record includes not only achievements and milestones but also devastating episodes of war and mass violence.

1985: Steve Jobs leaves Apple

The technology industry experienced a major turning point on September 16, 1985.

Steve Jobs resigned from Apple after losing operational authority in an internal struggle over the company’s direction. Contemporary reporting described his plans to establish a new computer venture.

Jobs subsequently founded NeXT, while also becoming involved with Pixar. His departure initially appeared to represent a major setback for the Apple co-founder.

Twelve years later, however, September 16 would become significant in the opposite direction.

1987: The Montreal Protocol is signed

September 16, 1987 became one of the most important dates in international environmental governance.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in Montreal on September 16, 1987. The treaty established international controls on chemicals responsible for damaging the ozone layer.

The agreement became an important example of international cooperation based on scientific evidence. It eventually received universal participation, and September 16 was later designated by the United Nations as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

The date therefore connects science, health, environmental protection, diplomacy and industrial innovation.

Ozone protection is also directly connected with human health because the ozone layer shields life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

1988: Tom Browning throws a perfect game

Sports history has its own unforgettable September 16 milestone.

On September 16, 1988, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning threw a perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning 1–0. Every batter he faced was retired.

Major League Baseball records describe it as the first perfect game in Cincinnati Reds history and the 12th perfect game in MLB history at the time.

Browning’s achievement became one of the defining moments of his career and remains one of baseball’s most demanding individual accomplishments.

1990: China and Kazakhstan gain a major rail connection

On September 16, 1990, a railway connection between China and Kazakhstan was completed at Dostyk.

The connection was historically important because it strengthened the overland transportation network between China and Central Asia and became part of the wider development of Eurasian rail connectivity.

Decades later, the growth of rail freight between Asia and Europe would make such infrastructure increasingly important to international trade.

1992: Britain’s “Black Wednesday”

September 16, 1992 became known as Black Wednesday in British economic history.

The pound sterling was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after intense pressure in currency markets. The episode became a major political and economic setback for the British government of the period.

It also became an important case study in the difficulties governments can encounter when attempting to maintain exchange-rate commitments against market pressure.

1996: Space Shuttle Atlantis launches toward Mir

Space exploration produced another September 16 milestone in 1996.

NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis launched the STS-79 mission on September 16, carrying astronauts involved in the Shuttle-Mir programme. The mission transferred astronauts and supplies between Atlantis and the Russian Mir space station.

The mission was particularly significant for astronaut Shannon Lucid, who returned to Earth after spending 188 days aboard Mir. NASA records describe her stay as a U.S. and women’s spaceflight endurance record at the time.

The mission demonstrated the growing cooperation between the United States and Russia in human spaceflight after the Cold War.

1997: Steve Jobs returns to Apple’s leadership

Exactly 12 years after his departure, Steve Jobs returned to Apple’s leadership on September 16, 1997, becoming interim chief executive after the departure of Gil Amelio. Contemporary reporting described Jobs as officially retaking the company’s helm.

His return became one of the most consequential corporate comebacks in modern business history.

The company would later introduce products including the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad, transforming Apple’s position in consumer technology.

The coincidence of Jobs leaving Apple on September 16, 1985, and returning to its leadership on September 16, 1997, makes the date particularly striking in technology history.

2004: Hurricane Ivan strikes the United States

On September 16, 2004, Hurricane Ivan made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a powerful Category 3 hurricane.

The storm caused extensive destruction across parts of the Caribbean and the southern United States, demonstrating once again the destructive potential of major tropical cyclones.

Ivan became one of the most memorable hurricanes of the exceptionally active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season.

2007: Violence in Thailand and Iraq

September 16, 2007 brought two separate tragedies.

One-Two-GO Airlines Flight 269 crashed at Phuket International Airport in Thailand during an attempted landing, killing dozens of people. The disaster became one of the major aviation tragedies associated with that date.

In Baghdad, security personnel working for Blackwater Worldwide opened fire in Nisour Square, killing 17 Iraqi civilians. The incident generated major international controversy and became an important episode in debates about private security contractors operating during the Iraq War.

Both incidents demonstrate how September 16’s historical record includes moments when failures, violence and loss of life dramatically altered communities.

2013: Washington Navy Yard shooting

On September 16, 2013, a gunman killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. The attack shocked the United States and led to renewed attention to security at military and government facilities.

The tragedy became part of a broader national discussion about workplace security and gun violence.

2015: A major earthquake strikes Chile

On September 16, 2015, a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Chile near Illapel.

The earthquake generated a tsunami and caused deaths, injuries, evacuations and extensive damage along parts of the country’s coast. Historical records place its magnitude at approximately 8.3–8.4.

Chile’s experience with major earthquakes has made earthquake-resistant construction, early-warning systems and disaster preparedness important components of national policy.

2021: Inspiration4 opens a new chapter in human spaceflight

September 16, 2021 was another landmark date in space exploration.

SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission carried four private citizens into Earth orbit, becoming the first orbital human spaceflight conducted entirely by private citizens. NASA records identify the mission as the first orbital spaceflight with only private citizens aboard.

The mission represented a significant development in commercial human spaceflight.

It also had a medical and scientific dimension. The crew participated in research examining the effects of spaceflight on the human body, while the mission raised more than $250 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The participation of Sian Proctor was also significant in education and science outreach. Before becoming an astronaut, she had worked as a community-college geosciences professor, demonstrating how education, science communication and space exploration can intersect.

2022: The death of Mahsa Amini becomes a global human-rights issue

September 16, 2022 marked the death of Mahsa Amini in Tehran after her detention by Iran’s morality police.

Her death triggered widespread protests in Iran and international attention to women’s rights, personal freedoms and government conduct. The event became one of the most significant social and political developments associated with Iran in the early 2020s.

September 16 and the history of science and health

The date has an unusual connection with health and scientific progress through both individual achievements and international policy.

The Montreal Protocol is particularly important because protection of the ozone layer has implications for human health, agriculture and ecosystems. The United Nations continues to mark September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. In 2026, the UN’s theme is “Global action for a cooler planet,” highlighting the continuing relationship between ozone protection, climate policy and cooling technology.

Space research has also contributed to health science. During the STS-79 mission, NASA conducted investigations involving human life sciences and the effects of long-duration spaceflight.

During the Inspiration4 era, private citizens likewise participated in biomedical research, helping expand the amount of human health data generated through commercial spaceflight.

September 16 in entertainment and popular culture

The date has produced an impressive collection of entertainment milestones.

The release of Electric Ladyland in 1968 established September 16 as an important date in rock history. The album became closely associated with Jimi Hendrix’s innovative approach to guitar playing and studio production.

The date also falls within the history of the James Bond film franchise. Goldfinger had its world premiere in London on September 16, 1964, before its wider British release. The film became one of the best-known entries in the Bond series.

Television, film and popular entertainment have therefore added another layer to the historical significance of the date.

Famous people born on September 16

September 16 has produced a remarkable list of notable birthdays.

B.B. King (1925–2015) was born on September 16, 1925. The legendary American blues guitarist and singer became one of the most influential figures in blues music, helping bring the genre to a worldwide audience.

Lauren Bacall (1924–2014) was born on September 16, 1924. She became one of Hollywood’s most recognisable stars, particularly through films including The Big Sleep and Key Largo.

Peter Falk (1927–2011), best known internationally for playing Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo, was also born on September 16.

Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015), Singapore’s founding prime minister and one of the most influential political figures in modern Southeast Asian history, was born on September 16, 1923.

Marc Anthony, the internationally successful singer and salsa performer, was born on September 16, 1968.

Other notable September 16 birthdays include magician David Copperfield, actress Jennifer Tilly, comedian and actress Amy Poehler, historian Henry Louis Gates Jr., and singer Nick Jonas.

The variety of professions represented by these birthdays illustrates the unusually broad cultural footprint associated with the date.

Notable deaths on September 16

September 16 has also marked the deaths of major figures.

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, the physicist and instrument maker whose name became permanently associated with the Fahrenheit temperature scale, died on September 16, 1736. His work included the development of alcohol and mercury thermometers and the temperature scale that bears his name.

Maria Callas, one of the most celebrated opera singers of the 20th century, died in Paris on September 16, 1977, at the age of 53. Her performances helped revive interest in demanding bel canto repertoire and established her as one of opera’s most influential performers.

Jean Piaget, the Swiss psychologist and influential scholar of child development, also died on September 16, 1980. His research profoundly influenced ideas about children’s cognitive development and education.

The date has also been associated with the deaths of historical political figures including James II of England, who died in 1701, and Charles V of France, who died in 1380.