August 16: What Happened on This Day in History

• 2013: Ammar Badei, son of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie, was killed during violent confrontations in Cairo amid political unrest following the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état.
• 2006: Home plate umpire Bruce Froemming was honored during an on-field ceremony at Fenway Park for achieving a remarkable milestone of working his 5,000th major league baseball game in his 36-year career. This achievement places him second only to Bill Klem, who officiated 5,374 games from 1905-1940.
• 1991: Official census records show Belgium's population at 10,000,963 inhabitants, providing a snapshot of the country's demographic landscape in 1991.
• 1990: During the early stages of the Gulf War, Iraq ordered approximately 4,000 British and 2,500 American citizens in Kuwait to be moved to Iraq, escalating tensions in the region and creating a potential diplomatic crisis.
• 1987: Val Skinner emerged victorious in the LPGA MasterCard International Golf Pro-Am, showcasing her skill and competitive prowess in professional women's golf.
• 1986: Madonna's "True Blue" album reached #1 on the charts and remained there for five weeks. Her single "Papa Don't Preach" also topped the charts for two weeks, solidifying her status as a pop music icon of the mid-1980s.
• 1983: Musician Paul Simon and actress Carrie Fisher, two prominent entertainment figures, were married on this day. Their high-profile relationship captured media attention during the early 1980s.
• 1982: On August 16, 1982, Argentine military forces officially surrendered to British troops in Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). This momentous event marked the conclusive end of the 74-day Falklands War, a conflict that began on April 2 when Argentina invaded the British-controlled islands. The surrender represented a decisive victory for the United Kingdom, which had dispatched a naval task force to reclaim the territory after the Argentine invasion. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's resolute leadership and the British military's strategic operations were crucial in successfully repelling the Argentine forces and restoring British sovereignty over the islands.
• 1978: On August 16, 1978, the Double Eagle II made history by completing the first successful transatlantic balloon flight. The remarkable journey was piloted by three adventurous aeronauts: Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman. Departing from Presque Isle, Maine, the team navigated their balloon across the vast Atlantic Ocean, ultimately landing in Miserey, France. The epic voyage covered an impressive distance of 3,120 miles and took 137 hours (approximately 5.7 days) to complete. This groundbreaking achievement represented a significant milestone in aviation history, demonstrating human ingenuity, endurance, and the spirit of exploration.
• 1975: The Rodgers & Hart musical production concluded its run at the Helen Hayes Theater in New York City after 108 performances, marking the end of a theatrical engagement.

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August 16th marks the 228th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 229th in case of leap years).

There are 137 days remaining until the end of the year.

August 16th is the 16th day of the month of August.

What day of the week is August 16?

On August 16th, 2025 the day of the week is Saturday.

Holidays and Observances on August 16

The zodiac sign associated with August 16th is Leo according to the Western Zodiac.

More about August 16 zodiac

What is special about the Leo sign?

• Leo personality traits and attitude
• Leo most and least compatible signs
• Why August born are so special