February 16

Facts & Historical Events On This Day

2013

Lionel Messi scored his 300th goal for Barcelona’s soccer team.

2005

Reality documentary The Apprentice (UK) premiered with businessman Lord Alan Sugar as the leading judge.

1980

The world's longest traffic jam from Lyon to Paris, France, extended a lengthy 104 miles (167 km).

1968

The first-ever 911 call was made in the US.

1961

NASA's Explorer 9 satellite launched from the Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia.

1959

Fidel Castro was sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba.

1946

The first commercial helicopter, Sikorsky S51, had its first test flight.

1943

Winston Churchill fell ill with pneumonia.

1934

The Austrian Civil War came to an end after four days of bloodshed.

1922

Egyptian King Tutankhamun's coffin was discovered.

1899

Iceland's first football club, Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkurv (Reykjavík Football Club), was founded.

1862

The Battle of Fort Donelson ended, with nearly 14,000 Confederate soldiers surrendering.

1840

American explorer Charles Wilkes discovered the Shackleton Ice Shelf in Antarctica.

1659

The first known British check was written for the amount of £400.