In History, Today on April 16

A fire broke out in a hospital COVID-19 ward in Tver, Russia, killing six patients. The fire was attributed to a short circuit in equipment used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

A mass shooting occurred at a FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, resulting in the deaths of eight employees and the gunman. The incident sparked a national conversation about gun violence in the United States.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral fire in Paris was extinguished after burning for over 15 hours, causing significant damage to the historic structure.

The South Korean ferry MV Sewol capsized and sank, resulting in the deaths of 304 passengers, most of whom were high school students.

The Virginia Tech shooting occurred, resulting in the deaths of 32 people and the gunman, Seung-Hui Cho, in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

The Treaty of Accession 2003 was signed in Athens, Greece, marking a significant enlargement of the European Union, which saw the formal invitation for ten countries to join the EU as of May 1, 2004.

The 'Doctor of the Church' honor is bestowed upon Teresa of Avila and Catherine of Siena by Pope John Paul II, marking the first time women received the title.

Apollo 16, the tenth crewed mission in the United States Apollo space program, was launched. It was the fifth mission to land on the Moon and the first to land in the lunar highlands.

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous 'Letter from Birmingham Jail,' defending the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism, during his imprisonment for protesting against racial segregation.

Bernard Baruch, a U.S. financier and presidential advisor, coined the term 'Cold War' to describe the post-World War II geopolitical tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States.

The Battle of Berlin began as Soviet forces launched their final offensive of World War II in Europe.

Albert Hofmann, a Swiss chemist, accidentally discovered the psychedelic effects of LSD when he unintentionally absorbed a small amount through his fingertips.

Vladimir Lenin returned to Petrograd from exile in Switzerland, a pivotal moment in the Russian Revolution. His return was facilitated by the Germans, who hoped he would create further instability in Russia.

The world's first telephoned performance takes place at the Théâtre de l'Opéra in Paris.

The United States Congress passes the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, ending slavery in Washington D.C.

The first passenger rail opened in India, running from Bori Bunder in Bombay to Thane, marking the beginning of the Indian railway system.

The Battle of Cerro Gordo took place during the Mexican-American War, resulting in a decisive victory for the United States forces under General Winfield Scott.

The United States Senate ratified the Rush-Bagot Treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom, which limited naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain after the War of 1812.

The British warship HMS Daedalus, under the command of Captain Henry Lovely, was launched. The ship later saw service in the Napoleonic Wars and was eventually decommissioned and broken up in 1811.

The Battle of Culloden took place, marking the final confrontation of the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The British government forces, led by the Duke of Cumberland, defeated the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart, effectively ending the Jacobite cause.

Martin Luther arrived in Worms for the Diet of Worms, where he was asked to recant his teachings.

The Revolt of the Comuneros, a popular uprising against the rule of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, began in Spain.

Stefan Dušan was crowned Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, establishing the Serbian Empire as a significant power in Southeast Europe during the 14th century. This event marked the height of the medieval Serbian state and the Nemanjić dynasty.

Pelagius I is elected as the Pope of the Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Vigilius.

The Siege of Masada ended when Roman troops of the Judaean Expeditionary Force, led by Lucius Flavius Silva, took the Jewish fortress of Masada in modern-day Israel, concluding the First Jewish-Roman War. The besieged Sicarii committed mass suicide to avoid capture.