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!
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 – 16th May”.
1920: Joan of Arc canonized a Saint
Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orléans was a peasant girl who led various victories for France during the Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years War. She was burnt at the stake when she was just 19. She already had the stature of a mythic or being guided by the divine. On this day, Pope Benedict XV canonized her. That is how she went from being accused of witchcraft to being titled a Saint.
1929: First Academy Awards
The first Academy Awards were presented on this day. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had its first award ceremony in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with around 250 people. Janet Gaynor and Emil Jannings won the best actress and actor award, respectively. Whereas, Charlie Chaplin received a special honorary award.
1943: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising suppressed
The Warsaw Ghetto uprising that began in the month of April was suppressed on this day. The Jews were resisting their deportation to the Treblinka extermination camp. It is considered to be the largest and the first significant urban revolt by the Jews in World War. The revolt was quelled with Jews being deported to killing centres and concentration camps.
1960: International Day of Light
It was on this day that the first successful operation of the laser was performed in history by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. Therefore, the International Day of Light is celebrated to commemorate this anniversary and to highlight the role of light in science, culture and all other fields.
2019: Chinese-born American architect I.M. Pei dies
Popularly known for designing the glass pyramid at the entrance of Louvre, Paris and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington. I.M. Pie who started his journey as a designer for real estate became one of the most famous architects in the world. He died at the age of 102.
