June 16
June 16 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 198 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Gemini.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On June 16 the Sun's declination is approximately +23.4°. At this latitude the Sun is north of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere longer days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a June 16.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Bloomsday (Ireland, commemorating James Joyce's Ulysses)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1858 — Abraham Lincoln delivered his "House Divided" speech in Springfield, Illinois. ↗(168 years ago)more
The House Divided Speech was an address given by senatorial candidate and future president of the United States Abraham Lincoln, on June 16, 1858, at what was then the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, after he had accepted the Illinois Republican Party's nomination as candidate for US senator.
1903 — The Ford Motor Company was incorporated. ↗(123 years ago)more
The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobiles and commercial vehicles under the Ford brand, and luxury cars under its Lincoln brand.
1963 — Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, aboard Vostok 6. ↗(63 years ago)more
Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is a Russian engineer, politician, and former Soviet cosmonaut. She was the first woman in space, having flown a solo mission on Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963. She orbited the Earth 48 times, spent almost three days in space, is the only woman to have been on a solo space mission and is the last surviving Vostok programme cosm...
1976 — The Soweto uprising began in South Africa, sparked by an order to use Afrikaans in schools. ↗(50 years ago)more
The Soweto uprising, also known as the Soweto riots or the Soweto rebellion, was a series of demonstrations and protests led by black school children in South Africa during apartheid that began on the morning of 16 June 1976.
Notable births
1890 — Stan Laurel, English comic actor (Laurel and Hardy). ↗(136 years ago)more
Stan Laurel was an English actor, comedian, director and writer who was in the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Hardy in 107 short films, feature films and cameo roles.
1971 — Tupac Shakur, American rapper. ↗(55 years ago)more
Tupac Amaru Shakur was an American rapper and actor. He was one of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century, and a prominent political activist for Black America. He is among the best-selling music artists, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Notable deaths
1977 — Wernher von Braun, German-American rocket engineer. ↗(49 years ago)more
Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun was a German American aerospace engineer and space architect. He became a member of the Nazi Party and then the Allgemeine SS to support his rocket work. He led the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany, and later of rocket and space technology in the US.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (168) | 2^3 × 3 × 7 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (198) | 2 × 3^2 × 11 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 16062026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +23.38° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 4 days |