1678
Literature
Anonymous publication of La Princesse de Clèves
Her masterpiece La Princesse de Clèves was published anonymously in Paris, later hailed as the first modern psychological novel in French literature.
View detailsThis Day
16March
29 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1750
Science
Birth of Caroline Herschel
Caroline Lucretia Herschel was born in Hannover, Germany, the daughter of a musician who encouraged her early education.
View details1799
Science
Birth of Anna Atkins
Anna Atkins was born in Tonbridge, Kent, England, the only child of scientist John George Children.
View details1822
Arts
Birth of Rosa Bonheur
Marie-Rosalie "Rosa" Bonheur was born on March 16, 1822, in Bordeaux, France.
View details1882
Politics
U.S. ratification of the Geneva Convention
The United States ratified the Geneva Convention, reinforcing the humanitarian framework Barton had advanced through the American Red Cross.
View details1883
Literature
Birth of Ethel Campbell Louise Anderson
Ethel Anderson was born on March 16, 1883, in Leamington, England.
View details1915
Science
Patent granted for crank pencil sharpener
U.S. Patent No. 1,130,108 was granted to Helen Blanchard for a pencil-sharpening machine, one of her last known patents.
View details1915
Science
Girl Scouts, Inc. incorporated; Low becomes first national president
Girl Scouts, Inc. was incorporated in New York on March 16, 1915, with Juliette Gordon Low becoming its first national president.
View details1919
Activism
Leads mass women’s anti‑British demonstration in Cairo
Leads about 300 veiled women in a historic anti‑British march in Cairo, the first major women‑led political demonstration in modern Egypt.
View details1923
Activism
Public unveiling at Cairo railway station
Publicly removes her face veil at Cairo station after a Rome women’s conference, in a landmark symbolic act of collective unveiling.
View details1925
1934
Arts
First Academy Award for Best Actress — Morning Glory
At the 6th Academy Awards, Hepburn won her first Best Actress Oscar for Morning Glory (1933), starting her record of four acting Oscars.
View details1936
1940
Literature
Death of Selma Lagerlöf at Mårbacka
Selma Lagerlöf died on 16 March 1940 at her home Mårbacka in Värmland County, Sweden, aged 81.
View details1944
Literature
Start of Anne Frank's diary revision project
Anne Frank began revising her diary with the intention of creating 'The Secret Annex.'
View details1959
Law
Death of Tcheng Soumay
Tcheng Soumay died on March 16, 1959, after a life devoted to legal advocacy and women's rights.
View details1959
Arts
Marriage to David Brown
Helen Gurley and David Brown married on March 16, 1959, in Beverly Hills, CA.
View details1963
1966
Literature
National Book Award for Fiction
"The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter" won the 1966 National Book Award for Fiction, honoring it as the year's outstanding American fiction.
View details1970
Science
First transgender person to win a Grammy Award
Wendy Carlos wins the first Grammy Award for a transgender artist for "Switched-On Bach."
View details1978
Science
Death of Mary Brooksbank
Mary Brooksbank, Dundee's celebrated mill-worker poet and socialist activist, died on 16 March 1978.
View details1990
Science
Filing of the 'Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell' Patent Application
Ann Tsukamoto and colleagues file the landmark U.S. patent application for isolating purified human blood-forming stem cells, later granted as US 5,035,994.
View details1993
Politics
Challenged Senate dress code
Challenged Senate dress code by wearing pants, helping change rules.
View details1994
Activism
Received James Madison Award for Openness Initiative
O'Leary received the James Madison Award from the American Society of Access Professionals for her Openness Initiative declassifying millions of energy documents.
View details2001
Arts
Died in London at age 102
Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of British classical ballet, died on 16 March 2001 in London at age 102.
View details2003
Activism
Death while protesting home demolition in Rafah
Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American peace activist, was crushed by an Israeli military bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza Strip.
View details2022
Arts
Google Doodle marking her 200th birthday
Google Doodle honored Rosa Bonheur on the 200th anniversary of her birth.
View details2023
Science
Presented Research to U.S. Ambassador During AURA/Gemini Cerro Pachón Visit
Kathy Vivas was among astronomers who presented research and operations to U.S. Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan during her visit to AURA's Cerro Pachón facilities.
View details2023
Arts
Museum recognition of Ruth E. Carter’s barrier-breaking Oscar milestones
African American Museum in Philadelphia highlights her barrier-breaking Oscar milestones and impact on Black cultural representation.
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