16 January 1750

A Friday in history

Weekday

Friday

Season

Winter (N. Hemisphere)

Century

18th century

Records

401

  1. 2018

    In Mrauk U, Myanmar, police fired into a crowd protesting the ban of an event to mark the anniversary of the end of the Kingdom of Mrauk U, resulting in seven deaths and twelve injuries.

    Source
  2. 2017

    Turkish Airlines Flight 6491 crashed in Manas International Airport (aftermath pictured) after the flight overflew the entire runway, which resulted in 39 deaths.

    Source
  3. 2016

    After gunmen took hostages the previous night at a restaurant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, government commandos stormed the premises to bring the situation to an end.

    Source
  4. 1964

    The musical Hello, Dolly! opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway, and went on to win ten Tony Awards, a record that stood for 37 years.

    Source
  5. 1945

    World War II: Adolf Hitler and his staff moved into the Führerbunker in Berlin, where he would eventually commit suicide.

    Source
  6. 1942

    TWA Flight 3 crashed into Potosi Mountain in Nevada, killing actress Carole Lombard and all of the other 21 people on board.

    Source
  7. 1942

    World War II: During the Battle of Bataan, U.S. Army sergeant Jose Calugas (pictured) organized a squad of volunteers to man an artillery position under heavy fire, an action that later earned him the Medal of Honor.

    Source
  8. 1920

    The League of Nations, the first worldwide intergovernmental organization with a focus on peace and security, held its first council meeting in Paris.

    Source
  9. 1905

    Despite being blind in one eye, ice hockey player Frank McGee (pictured) set the record for most goals in a Stanley Cup game when he scored 14 against the Dawson City Nuggets.

    Source
  10. 1883

    The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, establishing the United States Civil Service, was enacted by the U.S. Congress.

    Source
  11. 1862

    A pumping engine at a colliery in New Hartley, England, broke and fell down the shaft, trapping miners below and resulting in 204 deaths.

    Source
  12. 1809

    Peninsular War: French forces under Jean-de-Dieu Soult attacked the British amphibious evacuation under Sir John Moore at Corunna in Galicia, Spain.

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  13. 1780

    American Revolutionary War: The Royal Navy gained their first major naval victory over their European enemies in the war when they defeated a Spanish squadron in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent.

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  14. 1537

    Sir Francis Bigod began an armed rebellion against King Henry VIII and the English Parliament.

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  15. 1275

    Eleanor of Provence received permission from her son King Edward I of England to expel Jews from the towns of Worcester, Marlborough, Cambridge and Gloucester.

    Source
  16. -27

    Gaius Octavianus was given the titles Augustus and Princeps by the Roman Senate when he became the first Roman emperor.

    Source

Photo archive

24 historic images from this day — tap to open the gallery.

What was life like?

Prices, jobs, food, music and everyday routine — the world as it felt to live in.

Sources & fact check

Every claim is traced to primary sources, archives, universities and the press — with an explicit confidence rating. Dossiers are generated once and cached permanently.