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
November 16 Monday, November 16, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 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
6
Holidays
1776
War 250 years ago
American Revolutionary War: British and Hessian units capture Fort Washington from the Patriots.
British and Hessian forces capture Fort Washington in northern Manhattan, taking nearly 3,000 Patriot prisoners in one of the war's costliest American defeats.
History
What happened on November 16
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 951Chinese history
Emperor Li Jing sends a Southern Tang expeditionary force of 10,000 men under Bian Hao to conquer Chu. Li Jing removes the ruling family to his own capital in Nanjing, ending the Chu Kingdom.
Bian Hao leads a Southern Tang expeditionary force of 10,000 men to conquer Chu, removing its ruling family to Nanjing and ending the kingdom.
- 1272UK history
While travelling during the Ninth Crusade, Prince Edward becomes King of England upon Henry III of England's death, but he will not return to England for nearly two years to assume the throne.
Prince Edward becomes King of England while on the Ninth Crusade, though he will not return home to assume the throne for nearly two years.
- 1491Religion
An auto-da-fé, held in the Brasero de la Dehesa outside of Ávila, concludes the case of the Holy Child of La Guardia with the public execution of several Jewish and converso suspects.
Several Jewish and converso suspects are publicly executed in an auto-da-fé near Ávila, concluding the case of the Holy Child of La Guardia.
- 1532World history
Francisco Pizarro and his men capture Inca Emperor Atahualpa at the Battle of Cajamarca.
Francisco Pizarro captures Inca Emperor Atahualpa during the Battle of Cajamarca.
- 1632War
King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was killed at the Battle of Lützen during the Thirty Years' War.
King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was killed in battle at Lützen, marking a significant turning point in the Thirty Years' War.
- 1776War
American Revolutionary War: British and Hessian units capture Fort Washington from the Patriots.
British and Hessian forces capture Fort Washington in northern Manhattan, taking nearly 3,000 Patriot prisoners in one of the war's costliest American defeats.
- 1793European history
French Revolution: Ninety dissident Roman Catholic priests are executed by drowning at Nantes.
Ninety dissenting Roman Catholic priests are executed by drowning in Nantes.
- 1805War
Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Schöngrabern: Russian forces under Pyotr Bagration delay the pursuit by French troops under Joachim Murat.
Russian forces led by Pyotr Bagration slow down the French pursuit under Joachim Murat in the Battle of Schöngrabern.
- 1822US history
American Old West: Missouri trader William Becknell arrives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, over a route that became known as the Santa Fe Trail.
William Becknell arrives in Santa Fe, establishing the trade route that becomes the Santa Fe Trail.
- 1940World history
The Holocaust: In occupied Poland, the Nazis close off the Warsaw Ghetto from the outside world.
The Nazis seal off the Warsaw Ghetto, isolating its inhabitants from the rest of the city.
- 1988Politics
In the first open election in more than a decade, voters in Pakistan elect populist candidate Benazir Bhutto to be Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Benazir Bhutto becomes Pakistan's first female prime minister in the country's first open election in over a decade.
- 2009Technology
Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-129 to the International Space Station.
Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on mission STS-129 to deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 16
7 this date All birthdays
Paul Hindemith
German composer, violist and conductor
Paul Hindemith, German composer, violist, and conductor who founded the Amar Quartet and became a major advocate of Neue Sachlichkeit music in the 1920s, was born in 1895.
Born
1895
Died
1963
Charles Turner
Australian cricketer
1862 – 1944
Harold Baigent
New Zealand actor and director
1916 – 1996
Kang Ning-hsiang
Taiwanese politician
b. 1938 · 88
Terence McKenna
American botanist, philosopher, and author
1946 – 2000
Francis M. Fesmire
American cardiologist and physician
1959 – 2014
Carol Huynh
Canadian wrestler
b. 1980 · 46
Music
The number one songs on November 16
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 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 November 16, 2005
Following a 31-year wait, Australia defeats Uruguay in a penalty shootout to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Australia defeats Uruguay in a penalty shootout, securing a place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup after a 31-year absence.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 16, 2022
Artemis Program: NASA launches Artemis 1 on the first flight of the Space Launch System, the start of the program's future missions to the moon.
NASA launches Artemis 1, marking the debut flight of the Space Launch System and setting the stage for future lunar missions.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Day of Declaration of Sovereignty (Estonia)
International
All official holidays in Estonia are established by acts of Parliament
Earliest day on which Day of Repentance and Prayer can fall, while November 22 is the latest; celebrated 11 days before Advent Sunday (Lutheran, Reformed (Calvinist) and United Protestant churches, Saxony, Bavaria), and its related observance: Volkstrauertag (Germany)
International
Volkstrauertag is a commemoration day in Germany two Sundays before the first day of Advent
Icelandic Language Day or Dagur íslenskrar tungu (Iceland)
International
Icelandic Language Day is a festival celebrated on 16 November each year in Iceland to celebrate the Icelandic language
International Day for Tolerance (United Nations)
International
The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance day declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance
Statia Day in Sint Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands)
International
Statia Day is a national holiday celebrated in the Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius, a special municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Intergenerational Fairness Day (International day of action for rights of younger and future generations)
International
The Intergenerational Fairness Day (IFD) is observed annually on 16 November as a day dedicated to reflection and public discussion on fairness between present, younger, and future generations
❝
There are only two things worth aiming for, good music and a clean conscience.
— Paul Hindemith · born November 16, 1895