APRIL 16 | Birthdays and Events

Notable Birthdays for April 16

Alexander Cartwright (1820-1892) - Considered the inventor of modern baseball.

Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) - Aviation inventor and pioneer.

Barry Nelson (1917-2007) - The first actor to play James Bond.

Don Kirshner (1934-2011) - American rock & roll producer who invented bubblegum music.

R. Carlos Nakai (1946-Still Living) - Native American flute player.

David M. Brown (1956-2003) - Astronaut who died on Shuttle Columbia (STS-107).

Jon Cryer (1965-Still Living) - Actor known for his role as Ducky in the movie Pretty in Pink, but also Alan in the t.v. series Two and a Half Men.

Selena (1971-2005) - Singer, songwriter, fashion designer who was known as the "Queen of Tejano Music."

Tracy K. Smith (1972-Still Living) - Black female poet and educator who has won several awards for her works.

Memorable Events for April 16

1524 - Giovanni Verrazano, on a voyage for France, becomes the the first European to discover the New York harbour.

1758 - Francis Williams becomes the first Black college graduate to publish poetry.

1907 - Ellis Island records 11,745 immigrants in a single day.

1941 - The Office of Price Administration forms to handle rationing.

1945 - The U.S. Army liberates The POW camp Oflag IV-C (Colditz).

1964 - The Ford Mustang is introduced for sale for $2,368.

1964 - Jerrie Mock becomes the first woman to fly solo around the world.

1983 - The first National Coin Week begins.