Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
June 16 Tuesday, June 16, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on June 16 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
1407
War 619 years ago
Ming-Hồ War: Retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son King Hồ Hán Thương of Hồ dynasty are captured by the Ming armies.
Ming armies capture retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son King Hồ Hán Thương, ending the brief Hồ dynasty's rule over Vietnam.
History
What happened on June 16
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 632World history
Yazdegerd III ascends the throne as king (shah) of the Persian Empire. He becomes the last ruler of the Sasanian dynasty (modern Iran).
Yazdegerd III becomes the last shah of the Sasanian dynasty, ruling over the declining Persian Empire.
- 1407War
Ming-Hồ War: Retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son King Hồ Hán Thương of Hồ dynasty are captured by the Ming armies.
Ming armies capture retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son King Hồ Hán Thương, ending the brief Hồ dynasty's rule over Vietnam.
- 1487UK history
Battle of Stoke Field: King Henry VII of England defeats the leaders of a Yorkist rebellion in the final engagement of the Wars of the Roses.
Henry VII defeats the Yorkist rebels at Stoke Field, ending the Wars of the Roses.
- 1632US history
The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, the first settler of Pejepscot, Maine, settling at the site of Fort Andross.
Thomas Purchase receives a land patent from the Plymouth Company for Pejepscot, Maine, establishing the settlement at Fort Andross.
- 1779War
American Revolutionary War: Spain declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Great Siege of Gibraltar begins.
Spain declares war on Great Britain, launching the Great Siege of Gibraltar that would become the longest siege endured by British forces.
- 1795War
French Revolutionary Wars: In what became known as Cornwallis's Retreat, a British Royal Navy squadron led by Vice Admiral William Cornwallis strongly resists a much larger French Navy force and withdraws largely intact, setting up the French Navy defeat at the Battle of Groix six days later.
Vice Admiral William Cornwallis leads a British Royal Navy squadron in resisting a larger French Navy force, ensuring the fleet's mostly intact withdrawal before the Battle of Groix.
- 1815War
Battle of Ligny and Battle of Quatre Bras, two days before the Battle of Waterloo.
Napoleon Bonaparte fights the Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras, precursors to the decisive Battle of Waterloo.
- 1897US history
A treaty annexing the Republic of Hawaii to the United States is signed; the Republic would not be dissolved until a year later.
A treaty annexing the Republic of Hawaii to the United States is signed, with the republic dissolving a year later.
- 1940WWII
World War II: Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Chief of State of Vichy France (Chef de l'État Français).
Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes the Chief of State of Vichy France.
- 1995Science
The Astronomy Picture of the Day website is launched.
The Astronomy Picture of the Day website begins sharing daily images and explanations of celestial phenomena, becoming one of the internet's most popular astronomy resources.
- 2010World history
Bhutan becomes the first country to institute a total ban on tobacco.
Bhutan implements a nationwide ban on tobacco sales and use, setting a global health precedent.
- 2012Technology
The United States Air Force's robotic Boeing X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth after a classified 469-day orbital mission.
The Boeing X-37B spaceplane lands on Earth after a secretive 469-day mission in orbit.
Born today
Famous birthdays on June 16
7 this date All birthdays
Barbara McClintock
American geneticist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Barbara McClintock, the American cytogeneticist who pioneered maize chromosome research and won the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, was born today in 1902.
Born
1902
Died
1992
John Cheke
English academic and politician, English Secretary of State
1514 – 1557
Adam Smith
Scottish philosopher and economist
1723 – 1790
Gustaf V
King of Sweden
1858 – 1950
George Gaylord Simpson
American paleontologist and author
1902 – 1984
Warren Rodwell
Australian soldier, educator and musician
b. 1958 · 68
Steve Larmer
Canadian ice hockey player
b. 1961 · 65
Music
The number one songs on June 16
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on June 16, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport June 16, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science June 16, 1976
Soweto uprising: A non-violent march by 15,000 students in Soweto, South Africa, turns into days of rioting when police open fire on the crowd.
Students marching peacefully in Soweto are met with police gunfire, sparking days of violent riots.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Birthday of Leonard P. Howell (Rastafari)
International
Rastafari is an Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s
Bloomsday (Dublin, Ireland)
International
Bloomsday is a commemoration and celebration of the life of Irish writer James Joyce, observed annually in Dublin and elsewhere on 16 June
Engineer's Day (Argentina)
International
Engineer's Day is observed in several countries on various dates of the year
Father's Day (Seychelles)
International
Father's Day is a day set aside for honoring one's father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society
International Day of the African Child (Organisation of African Unity)
International
The International Day of the African Child, also known as the Day of the African Child (DAC), has been celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the OAU Organisation
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikhism)
International
The Nanakshahi calendar, or Sikh calendar, is a tropical solar calendar used in Sikhism
❝
If you know you are on the right track, if you have this inner knowledge, then nobody can turn you off... no matter what they say.
— Barbara McClintock · born June 16, 1902