12 History Lessons + 7 Births & 7 Deaths for September 16, 2025
Today’s History:
- 1620 – The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England for the New World.
- 1810 – Miguel Hidalgo’s “Grito de Dolores” launches Mexico’s War of Independence.
- 1893 – The Cherokee Outlet Land Run—largest in U.S. history—opens millions of Oklahoma acres to settlers.
- 1908 – William C. Durant incorporates General Motors.
- 1919 – Congress charters The American Legion.
- 1920 – Bomb explodes on Wall Street, killing 30+ and injuring hundreds.
- 1940 – FDR signs the Selective Training and Service Act—the first U.S. peacetime draft.
- 1955 – Argentina’s Revolución Libertadora begins, toppling Juan Perón.
- 1963 – Malaysia is formed, uniting Malaya, Sabah (North Borneo), Sarawak and Singapore.
- 1975 – Papua New Guinea becomes independent from Australia.
- 1987 – The Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer is adopted.
- 1992 – “Black Wednesday”: the U.K. is forced out of Europe’s ERM as the pound crashes.
Today’s Birthdays:
- 1952 – Mickey Rourke, actor (The Wrestler) (73).
- 1956 – David Copperfield, illusionist (69).
- 1964 – Molly Shannon, actor & comedian (SNL) (61).
- 1968 – Marc Anthony, singer & actor (57).
- 1971 – Amy Poehler, actor, comedian & producer (54).
- 1981 – Alexis Bledel, actor (Gilmore Girls) (44).
- 1992 – Nick Jonas, singer (Jonas Brothers) & actor (33).
Today’s Deaths:
- 1701 – James II of England, deposed Stuart king (67).
- 1498 – Tomás de Torquemada, first Grand Inquisitor of Spain (77).
- 1736 – Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, physicist & thermometer pioneer (50).
- 1973 – Víctor Jara, Chilean singer-activist (40).
- 1977 – Maria Callas, opera soprano (53).
- 1977 – Marc Bolan, T. Rex frontman (29).
- 2016 – Edward Albee, Pulitzer-winning playwright (88).
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