1738
Activism
Birth of Mary Katharine Goddard
Mary Katharine Goddard was born in Groton or New London, Connecticut.
View detailsThis Day
16June
31 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1829
Activism
Birth of Bessie Rayner Parkes
Bessie Rayner Parkes was born in Birmingham, England, into a Unitarian family of reformers and dissenters.
View details1861
Science
Appointed Superintendent of Army Nurses for the Union Army
Dix was appointed Superintendent of Army Nurses, becoming the first woman to hold this federal position, organizing nursing care for wounded Union soldiers.
View details1897
Politics
Formal protest to U.S. President against annexation of Hawaiʻi
Liliʻuokalani submits a formal protest letter to U.S. President McKinley opposing a proposed Hawaiʻi annexation treaty.
View details1902
Science
Birth of Barbara McClintock
Barbara McClintock was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
View details1904
Science
Elected first female member of the Council of the Royal Statistical Society (context varies by source)
Sophie Bryant was among the first women elected as Fellows of the Royal Statistical Society-era institutions recognising women's scholarship.
View details1908
Science
Birth of Rica Erickson
Rica Erickson was born on 16 June 1908 in Perth, Western Australia.
View details1911
Arts
Born in Hahndorf, South Australia
Nora Heysen was born on 16 June 1911 in Hahndorf, South Australia, daughter of celebrated landscape painter Hans Heysen.
View details1915
Science
Awarded Ph.D. in psychology of management
Received Ph.D. from Brown in industrial psychology, marking a pioneering achievement.
View details1917
Politics
Birth of Katharine Meyer (Graham)
Katharine Meyer (later Graham) was born in New York City to Eugene Meyer and Agnes Ernst.
View details1931
Literature
First woman to receive an honorary degree from Princeton University
Cather awarded honorary degree by Princeton University, marking a first for women.
View details1934
Aviation
First solo balloon flight
Piccard completed her first solo balloon flight, a key requirement toward her pilot’s license and a precursor to her later stratospheric ascent.
View details1939
Arts
Emigration to the United States
De Lempicka emigrated to the U.S. as war loomed over Europe.
View details1943
Activism
First female wireless operator sent into occupied France.
First female wireless/radio operator sent by Britain into occupied France in WWII.
View details1943
Science
First female SOE wireless operator dropped into occupied France
Noor Inayat Khan became the first female SOE wireless operator parachuted into Nazi-occupied France.
View details1953
Activism
Death in Sanderstead, Surrey
Margaret Bondfield died in Sanderstead, Surrey, in 1953.
View details1955
Science
First private chartered flyover of the North Pole
Boyd privately financed and organized the flight crew and aircraft for the June 16, 1955 North Pole flyover, the first private flight of its kind.
View details1955
Science
First woman to fly over the North Pole
At age 67, Boyd chartered a DC-4 and flew over and around the North Pole, becoming the first woman to do so.
View details1957
Arts
Grand Prize for Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman received the Grand Prize at Salone del Mobile.
View details1963
Exploration
First woman in space aboard Vostok 6
Orbits Earth 48 times over nearly three days.
View details1965
Science
Born in New York City
Andrea Mia Ghez was born on June 16, 1965, in New York City, later raised partly in Chicago.
View details1970
Activism
Death of Olave Baden-Powell
Olave Baden-Powell died on 16 June 1977 in Bramley, Hampshire, England, aged 88, after decades of leadership in the World Guide movement.
View details1984
Aviation
First all‑female flight deck crew at Frontier Airlines
Commands Frontier Airlines’ first all‑female flight deck crew, flying with First Officer Barbara Cook.
View details1985
1995
Arts
Release of 'Mixed Nuts'
Ephron directed 'Mixed Nuts', demonstrating her sustained impact as a filmmaker.
View details2001
Arts
Appointed MBE for services to music
Joan Armatrading is appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
View details2011
Arts
Texas formal recognition of Selena Day
Texas formally designates April 16 as Selena Quintanilla-Pérez Day, honoring her cultural and musical impact on the state.
View details2011
Arts
Honored on U.S. Latin Music Legends stamp
The U.S. Postal Service honored Carmen Miranda on a Latin Music Legends stamp.
View details2012
Arts
Appointed CBE for services to music
Joan Armatrading is appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
View details2015
Arts
Met debut as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet
Misty Copeland debuted as Juliet on short notice at the Met.
View details2023
Activism
Installed as Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast
Installed as Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, role recognizes public service.
View details