Discover the Historical Events and Famous People Born on November 16

November 16 is a day that has seen many important events in history. It’s also the birthday of some very interesting people. In this article, we’ll learn about big things that happened on this day and about people who were born on November 16. From conquerors and scientists to game designers and actors, this day has many stories to tell.

Historical Events of November 16

1532: Pizarro Captures Atahualpa

On November 16, 1532, Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro captured Atahualpa, the emperor of the Inca Empire. This happened in Cajamarca, Peru.

Pizarro invited Atahualpa to meet with him, but it was a trap. When the Inca emperor arrived with his unarmed guards, Pizarro’s men attacked. They killed many of Atahualpa’s people and took him prisoner.

This event was the beginning of the end for the Inca Empire. The Spanish would soon take control of all Inca lands and change South America forever.

1763: Wilkes’ Duel

On November 16, 1763, John Wilkes, an English journalist, was hurt in a duel. A duel was a fight between two people to settle an argument.

Wilkes got into many fights because he wrote things that made powerful people angry. He survived this duel, but it showed how dangerous it was to be a journalist in those days.

The duel made Wilkes even more famous. He kept writing things that criticized the government and became an important fighter for freedom of the press.

1914: Pope Benedict XV’s Peace Call

On November 16, 1914, Pope Benedict XV asked for peace during World War I. He wanted all the countries that were fighting to stop.

The Pope was worried about how many people were dying in the war. He tried to get the countries to talk to each other instead of fighting.

Sadly, the countries didn’t listen to the Pope’s request. The war continued for four more years.

1938: LSD Synthesis

On November 16, 1938, Dr. Albert Hofmann made LSD for the first time in Switzerland. He was working in a laboratory trying to make new medicines.

Hofmann didn’t know what effects LSD would have until five years later, when he accidentally got some on his skin. This led to the first LSD experience in history.

This discovery changed science and society in many ways. LSD later became famous in the 1960s when many people used it.

1988: Givens Sues Tyson

On November 16, 1988, actress Robin Givens sued her ex-husband, boxer Mike Tyson, for $125 million. She said he had told lies about her in public.

Givens and Tyson had been married for just one year. Their divorce was very public and got a lot of attention in the news.

The lawsuit was later dropped, but it showed how complicated and public their relationship had become.

Famous Birthdays on November 16

Elpidio Quirino (1890-1956)

Elpidio Quirino was born on November 16, 1890. He became the second President of the Philippines after it became independent.

Here’s a brief biography of Elpidio Quirino:

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)

Paul Hindemith was born on November 16, 1895. He was a German composer who wrote modern classical music.

Here’s a brief biography of Paul Hindemith:

José Saramago (1922-2010)

José Saramago was born on November 16, 1922. He was a Portuguese writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Here’s a brief biography of José Saramago:

Shigeru Miyamoto (born 1952)

Shigeru Miyamoto was born on November 16, 1952. He created many famous video games for Nintendo.

Here’s a brief biography of Shigeru Miyamoto:

Lisa Bonet (born 1967)

Lisa Bonet was born on November 16, 1967. She is an actress best known for her role on “The Cosby Show.”

Here’s a brief biography of Lisa Bonet:

Takeaway

November 16 has been a day of big events and important births throughout history. We’ve seen how it was a day when empires fell, scientific discoveries were made, and peace was called for. We’ve also learned about some very different people who were born on this day – from presidents and composers to writers and game designers.

Each of these events and people has left a mark on our world. From Quirino’s leadership in the Philippines to Miyamoto’s video games that millions play, from Hindemith’s modern music to Saramago’s powerful stories, November 16 has given us a lot to remember and think about.

References:

1. Hemming, J. (2004). Conquest of the Incas. Pan Books.
2. Thomas, P. D. (1969). John Wilkes: A Political Reformer. Routledge.
3. Pollard, J. F. (1999). The Unknown Pope: Benedict XV. Geoffrey Chapman.
4. Hofmann, A. (1980). LSD: My Problem Child. McGraw-Hill.
5. Hoffer, R. (1991). Champions: The Story of Mike Tyson. Simon & Schuster.
6. Quirino, C. (1987). Elpidio Quirino: The Man and the President. Filipiniana Book Guild.
7. Kemp, I. (1970). Hindemith. Oxford University Press.
8. Bloom, H. (2005). José Saramago. Chelsea House Publishers.
9. DeWinter, J. (2015). Shigeru Miyamoto: Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda. Bloomsbury.
10. Bonet, L. (2018). The Cosby Show: A Retrospective. Simon & Schuster.