This Day in History is DUE’s daily dose of trivia for all the history buffs out there. So sit back and take a ride of all the fascinating things that happened today on 16 February!
People are trapped in history and history is trapped in people, and hence, every day has been a significant one in the foibles of history. Now, let’s take a tour of “This Day in History – 16 February”.
1923 – First preserved mummy is discovered
After around five years of unsuccessful searches, English archaeologist Howard Carter finally discovered King Tutankhamen’s tomb in November 1922. However, it took Carter several months to open the last chamber of the tomb. On 16 February, the last chamber was finally explored, and the first perfectly preserved mummy was found. The treasures alongside it were still intact even after 3000 years.
1937 – Patent for Nylon is awarded
Wallace Carothers, a young chemist in the American company DuPont, filed for the patent of Nylon on this day. This synthetic fabric, which was born after a scarcity of silk in World War 2, has gone on to become one of the most indispensable materials in the market today.
1944 – Dadasaheb Phalke’s death anniversary
The father of Indian Cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, passed away today. He is known for his eminent works like ‘Shri Krishna Janma.’ Indian Cinema’s highest award is named after him and is awarded annually at the National Films Award ceremony.
1959 – Fidel Castro was sworn in
Cuba’s Prime Minister, Fidel Castro, who is notably known for his anti-American beliefs, was sworn in. He led the Cuban Revolution that resulted in the exile of Fulgencio Batista, the previous right-wing dictator.
1990 – The Weeknd is born
Canadian singer Abel Makkonen Tesfaye who is known professionally as The Weeknd was born today. The singer’s notable works include ‘After Hours’, ‘Beauty Behind the Madness’ and ‘Echoes of Silence.’
2001 – The Podujevo Bus Bombing
An alleged Albanian extremist attack on a bus in Kosovo resulted in 12 fatalities of Serbian civilians. It is believed that the ethnic Albanians were pushing for Kosovo’s independence. Today, Kosova is one of the youngest countries in the world.
2005 – Kyoto accord
The Kyoto Protocol came into force on 16 February 2005, several years after it was adopted. The Protocol believes the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities” that places a higher burden on developed countries as it recognizes that they are largely responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere.
