In History, Today on October 16

The United Kingdom and the European Union reach a revised Brexit deal, which is later rejected by the UK Parliament, prolonging the Brexit process.

Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, known for her investigative work on corruption, is killed by a car bomb in Malta, sparking international outrage and calls for justice.

The United States ends a 16-day government shutdown and raises the debt ceiling after Congress passes a bill to fund the government.

A powerful earthquake strikes the coast of central Chile, causing damage and prompting evacuations but resulting in no fatalities.

Bolivian President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada resigned and fled to the United States amidst widespread protests and civil unrest over his economic policies and the government plan to export natural gas.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a major library and cultural center, is officially inaugurated in Alexandria, Egypt, aiming to recapture the spirit of the ancient Library of Alexandria.

The Million Man March takes place in Washington, D.C., organized by Louis Farrakhan to promote African American unity and family values.

Desmond Tutu is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the opposition to apartheid in South Africa.

Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła is elected Pope John Paul II, becoming the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.

American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the U.S. national anthem at the Mexico City Olympics as a protest for human rights.

China detonates its first nuclear weapon, becoming the fifth nuclear-armed nation.

Ten Nazi war criminals are executed in Nuremberg following the Nuremberg Trials, marking a significant moment in post-World War II justice.

The U.S. government, through the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, executed the first peacetime draft in American history.

The Walt Disney Company is founded by Walt and Roy O. Disney, eventually becoming a major force in entertainment.

Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the United States in Brooklyn, New York, which led to her arrest for distributing information on contraception.

The Wilhelm Voigt impersonation caper occurred. Voigt, a German shoemaker, became famous when he impersonated a Prussian military officer and commandeered a squad of soldiers to help him rob a town hall in Köpenick.

The Partition of Bengal is made effective by the British Raj, leading to significant political unrest and contributing to the rise of the Indian independence movement.

Brigham Young University is incorporated in Provo, Utah. The school is named after Brigham Young, the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Cardiff Giant is 'discovered' in Cardiff, New York, a ten-foot-tall purported 'petrified man' which was later confirmed to be a hoax.

John Brown leads a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, intending to start an armed slave revolt.

William T. G. Morton administers ether anesthesia for the first time in a public demonstration at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, marking a significant advancement in medical surgery.

Queen's University is founded in Kingston, Ontario, by a Royal Charter from Queen Victoria.

The Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of Nations, begins. It is one of the largest battles in Europe prior to World War I, involving Napoleon's forces against a coalition of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden.

Marie Antoinette, the former Queen of France, is executed by guillotine in Paris during the French Revolution.

John White, the governor of the Roanoke Colony, returns to England after an unsuccessful attempt to find the colonists who mysteriously disappeared while he was away, an event popularly known as the 'Lost Colony' of Roanoke.

The Peace of Augsburg, which acknowledged the principle of cuius regio, eius religio, was officially proclaimed from the City Hall balcony in Augsburg, Holy Roman Empire. This historic accord allowed rulers to choose either Lutheranism or Catholicism as the official faith of their territories.

Jadwiga is crowned King of Poland, a title she holds despite being female, marking a significant moment in Polish history.

Saint Gerard of Csanád, the first bishop of Csanád in the Kingdom of Hungary and one of the patron saints of Hungary, was canonized.

King Harald III of Denmark, also known as Harald Hen, the King of Denmark from 1076 to 1080, passed away.

Wu Zetian became the first and only female emperor of China, founding the Zhou Dynasty.

The Battle of Placentia took place, where the Roman general Ricimer defeated the Vandals under King Gaiseric.