OCTOBER 16 | Birthday and Events

NOTABLE BIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBER 16

Noah Webster (1758-1843) - The creator of An American Dictionary of the English Language.

Paul Hamilton (1762-1816) - Third Secretary of the Navy whose contributions helped shape current methods of how the Navy handles conflict.

Benjamin Russell (1804-1885) - Journalist and founder of the Columbian Centinel, a Federalist newspaper in Boston.

Lucy Stanton (1831-1910) - One of the first Black women to receive a 4 year degree.

Richard Sears (1861-1943) - The first U.S. National Champion tennis player.

Paul Popenoe (1888-1979) - Founder of relationship counseling for couples and families.

Paul Strand (1890-1975) - Photographer most famous for his Wall Street (1915) image.

Gordon "Goose" Goslin (1900-1971) - Left-handed baseball player known for his ability to drive runs.

Big Joe Williams (1903-1982) - Delta blues singer best known for Baby Please Don’t Go and I Got the Blues.

Abraham Nemeth (1918-2013) - Mathematician who created the Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation.

MacKenzie Miller (1921-2010) - Horse trainer and breeder who is best known for training the horse Affirmed, winner of the 1978 Triple Crown.

Charles Dolan (1926-Still Living) - Founder Cablevision and HBO.

Mary Daly (1928-2010) - Theologian and activist whose works centered around religion, feminism, and social justice for women.

Barry Corbin (1940-Still Living) - Actor best known for his characters Maurice Minnifield in Northern Exposure and Coach Whitey Durham in One Tree Hill.

Elizabeth Loftus (1944-Still Living) - Psychologist who provided groundbreaking research in the study of memory and how outside factors contribute to how people remember events.

Suzanne Somers (1946-2023) - Actress best known for her role as Chrissy on Three's Company.

Bob Weir (1947-Still Living) - Guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead.

Lorenzo Carcaterra (1954-Still Living) - Author of Sleepers, which was later turned into a film.

Tim Robbins (1958-Still Living) - Actor known for his roles in Mystic River, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and Dead Man Walking.

Tamara McKinney (1962-Still Living) - Four-time World Cup winner in the alpine ski racer division.

Wendy Wilson (1969-Still Living) - Singer and co-founder of the group Wilson Phillips.

John Mayer (1977-Still Living) - Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer.

MEMORABLE EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 16

1848 - The Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania opens (now known as Drexel University College of Medicine).

1849 - Avery College opens its doors in Allegheny, Pennsylvania to provide education to Blacks.

1854 - Abraham Lincoln delivers his Peoria Speech to publicly criticizes legislation to extend slavery.

1869 - The first indoor plumbing is offered to patrons at the Tremont House (hotel in Boston).

1869 - The "Cardiff Giant" is found in Cardiff, NY, and is said to be petrified man similar to those found in the Bible.

1875 - Brigham Young University is opens in Provo, Utah.

1882 - The Nickel Plate Railroad between NY and Chicago opens for business to transport passengers.

1901 - Booker T. Washington dines at the White House with Teddy and Edith Roosevelt, prompting condemnation from both sides of segregation at the time.

1916 - Nurse Margaret Sanger opens Brownsville Clinic as the first family planning clinic in the U.S.

1923 - Walt and Roy Disney found the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio.

1936 - Lou "The Iron Horse" Gehrig is voted the American League MVP.

1942 - The National Boxing Association freezes all boxing titles held by anyone serving in the armed forces during WWII.

1943 - Chicago opens a new subway system.

1952 - Woolworth's opens in San Francisco, CA.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis begins after President Kennedy is shown pictures of nuclear missiles in Cuba.

1967 - Joan Baez, along with other anti-draft protesters, are arrested in Oakland for protesting in front of the Oakland Induction Center.

1986 - Keith Richards (Rolling Stone guitarist) organizes concert to celebrate the 60th Birthday of Chuck Berry.

1986 - The U.S. government shuts down over a dispute between President Reagan and the House.

2013 - The 16-day government shutdown ends.