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International observance days, weeks, and months for June 16, 2026. Plus historical events and birthdays.
Events that occurred on June 16 throughout history
The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase and his brother the first land patent. The land patent was used to build a trading post and fishing operation in Pejepscot Falls (present day Brunswick, Maine).
Abraham Lincoln delivers his infamous House Divided speech in Springfield, Illinois, after accepting the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
The first roller coaster opens in New York's Coney Island. The "Switchback Railway" cost five cents to travel 6 mph for 600 foot ride.
The Ford Motor Company is incorporated laying the groundwork for mass-production automobiles.
The Pepsi Cola Company forms when pharmacist Caleb Davis Bradham officially registered the "Pepsi-Cola" trademark.
IBM founded as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company in Endicott, New York, producing employee time-recording systems, weighing scales, and meat slicers.
President Ronald Reagan awards the Congressional Gold Medal to Ken Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran. He helped six Americans escape from Iran during the hostage crisis of 1979–81. He was the first foreign citizen to be awarded the honor.
People born on June 16
Tupac Amaru Shakur He is considered to be one of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century. He is in the elite class of the highest selling artists of all time.
Farmer, lawyer, and politician who became the first President (Governor) of New Hampshire. He was one of the key contributors to creating New Hampshire's constitution.
Publisher who approved the Watergate scandal be printed in the Washington Post.
Actor recognized for his role as "grandpa" in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Considered to be one of the greatest fashion photographers of the 20th Century.
Famous Apache leader and resistance fighter. After he was captured and forced on a reservation, the U.S. capitalized on Geronimo's fame among non-Indians by displaying him at various fairs and exhibitions.
Paleontologist who had extensive knowledge on extinct mammals and their intercontinental migrations, especially about Mesozoic fossil mammals.
The first Black American to play professional tennis. In later years, he became a coach to some of the world's best tennis players, including Renee Blount, Leslie Allen, Bruce Foxworth, and Venus and Serena Williams.
Cytogeneticist who discovered genetic transposition and studied chromosomes and how they change during reproduction in maize.
Ecologist and zoologist who worked primarily for the conservation of sea turtles.
