March 16
March 16 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 290 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Pisces.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On March 16 the Sun's declination is approximately -2.0°. At this latitude the Sun is south of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere shorter 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 March 16.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
No widely-observed holidays catalogued for this day in our base set. See the external almanacs above for region-specific observances.
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1521 — Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippines. ↗(505 years ago)more
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer best known for planning and leading the 1519–1522 Spanish expedition to the East Indies. During this expedition, he discovered the Strait of Magellan, performed the first European crossing of the Pacific Ocean, and made the first known European contact with the Philippines.
1751 — James Madison, future 4th U.S. President, was born. ↗(275 years ago)more
James Madison was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison was popularly acclaimed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
1802 — The U.S. Military Academy was established at West Point, New York. ↗(224 years ago)more
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York, that educates cadets for service as commissioned officers in the United States Army. The academy was founded in 1802, and it is the oldest of the five American service academies.
1968 — My Lai Massacre: U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed civilians in South Vietnam. ↗(58 years ago)more
The Mỹ Lai Massacre was a United States war crime committed on 16 March 1968, involving the mass murder of unarmed civilians in Sơn Mỹ village, Quảng Ngãi province, South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. At least 347 and up to 504 civilians, almost all women, children and elderly men, were murdered by U.S. Army soldiers.
Notable births
- 1751 — James Madison, 4th U.S. President. ↗(275 years ago)
more
James Madison was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison was popularly acclaimed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
1926 — Jerry Lewis, American comedian. ↗(100 years ago)more
Jerry Lewis was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. Across his seven-decade career, he was regarded as one of the greatest comedians of the 20th century. He is nicknamed the "King of Comedy".
Notable deaths
1898 — Aubrey Beardsley, English illustrator. ↗(128 years ago)more
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was an English illustrator and author. His black ink drawings were influenced by Japanese woodcuts, and depicted the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. He was a leading figure in the aesthetic movement, which also included Oscar Wilde and James McNeill Whistler.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (76) | 2^2 × 19 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (290) | 2 × 5 × 29 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 16032026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -2.02° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 87 days |