First Letter to Piero Dini
Galileo writes to Piero Dini defending Copernican astronomy and arguing that it need not conflict with Scripture.
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On this date in world history
February 16 in History
This permanent archive page contains 109 World History Database records for February 16, spanning 364 to 2025. Recorded topics include Death of Jovian; First Letter to Piero Dini; Legal Defence of Triennial Act.
Total: 109Events: 102Births: 1Deaths: 4Battles: 2Countries: 28
Events on February 16
Legal Defence of Triennial Act
St John defends the constitutional legality of requiring regular Parliaments.
Parliamentary Sessions Reform
Strode supports minimum requirements for the frequency and duration of parliamentary sessions.
Regular Parliament Safeguard
Hampden supports legislation guaranteeing that Parliament must meet regularly.
Regular Parliaments Required
The Triennial Act limits prolonged government without a Parliament.
Regular Parliaments Required
The Triennial Act limits extended periods of government without Parliament.
Regular Parliaments Required
The Triennial Act limits prolonged government without a Parliament.
Royal Assent to Triennial Act
Charles assents to legislation requiring Parliament to meet at least once every three years.
Royal Assent to Triennial Act
Charles assents to legislation requiring Parliament to meet at least once every three years.
Royal Assent to Triennial Act
The royal assent makes regular parliamentary sessions a statutory requirement.
Support for Triennial Act
Holles votes for the measure preventing another prolonged period of personal rule.
Triennial Act
Charles assents to legislation requiring Parliament to meet at least once every three years.
Triennial Act Advocacy
Pym supports statutory limits on the Crown's ability to govern without Parliament.
Triennial Act Proceedings
Lenthall presides as the Commons completes the Triennial Act legislation.
Capture of Torrington
Captures Torrington from the Royalists
Order on Army Chaplains
Issues an order concerning the duties of army chaplains before the year's continental campaign.
Constitution of Great Britain
Appointed Prime MInister of Great Britain, a "nominal" position, by George II
Prime Minister of Great Britain
The administration is dominated by John Carteret & Walpole is relied upon for advice. Succeeds Walpole as First Lord of the Treasury and titular head of the Carteret Ministry, though the Government was actually dominated by Lord Carteret. Appointed Prime MInister of Great Britain, a "nominal" position, by George II
President of National Assembly
Talleyrand became president of the National Assembly while supporting major institutional reforms.
General
Appointed General of the Brigade, confirmed
General
Appointed General of the Brigade, confirmed
General
Napoleon I was confirmed as general of brigade.
Treaty of Ghent
The US Senate unanimously approves the Treaty of Ghent
Supreme Director of Chile
Assumes executive authority after the patriot victory at Chacabuco.
Siege of Montevideo
Leads the Defence Government in Montevideo during the opening of the long siege by Oribe's forces
Renkioi Hospital
The War Office asks Brunel to design a prefabricated military hospital for the Crimean War.
Fire
Fire breaks causing considerable damage, the cause is never discovered
Vote of Confidence
The Parnellites pass a resolution of confidence in Parnell
Southern Cross Expedition
Cape Adare is sighted
1st Great Barrier Landing
Instead of returning home the Southern Cross sailed south to the Great Ice Barrier, Ross had been unable to mke a landing so Borchgrevink discovered an inlet in the Barrier edge, the "Bay of Whales", Borchgrevink, William Colbeck and Per Savio make the first landing on the Barrier and travelled 10 miles (16 km) south to set a new Farthest South record at 78 degrees 50S
Farthest South
Travels south over the Barrier to about 78 degrees 50 minutes south, setting a new farthest south mark
Great Ice Barrier
Lands on the Great Ice Barrier and opens a route that later expeditions use toward the interior
Southern Cross Expedition
Instead of returning home the Southern Cross sailed south to the Great Ice Barrier, Ross had been unable to mke a landing so Borchgrevink discovered an inlet in the Barrier edge, the "Bay of Whales", Borchgrevink, William Colbeck and Per Savio make the first landing on the Barrier and travelled 10 miles (16 km) south to set a new Farthest South record at 78 degrees 50S
Sopwith Sociable First Flight
The Admiralty's Sopwith Sociable associated with Churchill makes its first flight at Brooklands.
Large Landing-Craft Requirement Authorised
The Admiralty is pressed to obtain special craft able to support the landing of fifty thousand troops where required.
Capture of Erzerum
Leads Russian victory over the Turkish. Captures 13,000 prisoners & inflicts casualties of 60,000 killed or wounded
Election
The Socialists win 72 seats in the Austrian elections
NSDAP
The ban on the NSDAP is lifted
Trade Treaty
Trade Treaty signed between Britain & Russia
Treaty of Trade
Trade Treaty signed between Britain & Russia
Election
The Popular Fron win with a narrow victory
Amnesty
Austria announces an amnesty including those convicted of the murder of Dolfuss
Assassination of Engelbert Dollfuss
Austria announces a Nazi amnesty, including those convicted of the murder of Dolfuss
Austria Crisis Statement
Addresses the Commons as German pressure on Austria intensifies and Britain considers its response.
Visit to Berlin
Visits Hitler in Berlin to receive his orders
Altmark Incident
Supports naval action after German prisoners are found aboard Altmark.
Barttle of Narvik
Presses for mining Norwegian waters to force ore traffic away from Narvik.
Operation Wilfred
Advocates mining Norwegian waters to force a German response.
Operation Wilfred
Presses for mining Norwegian waters to disrupt the ore route from Narvik.
Siege of Altmark
Orders the Cossack Captain to liberate Britsh prisoners from the Altmark off Norway. British prisoners are freed without loss of British life, the crew of the Altmark flee
Goethe Medal
Gunther, leading ideologist of Nazi racial policy, is awarded the Goethe Medal
Beveridge Debate
Presses for more ambitious social and health reform.
Beveridge Debate
Presses ministers to act more boldly on Beveridge.
Beveridge Debate
Defends government caution over immediate Beveridge implementation.
Implosion Leadership Change
Kistiakowsky becomes a full-time Los Alamos staff member and takes leadership of the rapidly expanding implosion effort from Neddermeyer.
Shingle
The Germans drive a wedge between the British & American sectors, Lucas is dismissed
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan, 3rd term
Visit to To Nigeria
Makes a state visit to Nigeria
Inauguration
Miro unexpectedly resigns & Castro is sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba
Prime Minister
Becomes prime minister of the new revolutionary government.
Prime Minister of Cuba
Miro unexpectedly resigns & Castro is sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba
Resignation of Miro
Miro unexpectedly resigns & Castro is sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba
Deputy Directorate for Research Notice
CIA issued the headquarters notice establishing the Deputy Directorate for Research, placing important technical collection programs within the new organization.
Shadow Chancellor
Serves briefly as Shadow Chancellor before becoming party leader.
County Administrative Reform
Ceausescu's government replaces regions with counties in a national administrative reform.
Defeat to Frazier
Loses the WBA heavyweight title fight to Joe Frazier
World Heavyweight Title
Defeats Jimmy Ellis at Madison Square Garden to become recognized world heavyweight champion
White House Tape 858-003
John Ehrlichman appears with Richard Nixon and L. Patrick Gray in the 29-minute White House recording numbered 858-003; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 858-003
L. Patrick Gray appears with Richard Nixon and John Ehrlichman in the 29-minute White House recording numbered 858-003; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 858-003
Richard Nixon appears with John Ehrlichman and L. Patrick Gray in the 29-minute White House recording numbered 858-003; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
Toxteth Regeneration
Answers a parliamentary question concerning Toxteth and the Government's urban response.
Resignation of Clive Ponting
Ministry of Defence assistant secretary Clive Ponting resigns from his post over the Belgrano affair
Assassination of Robert Ouko
Assassination of Robert Ouko
Election
Elected President of Namibia, Namibias 1st President
President of Namibia
Appointed President of Namibia, Namibias 1st President
Kuwait Coastal Mine Threat
Iraqi minefields complicate naval support for the ground offensive.
Mine Countermeasure Campaign
Directs mine-clearing operations near the Kuwaiti coast.
Election
Calls elections to be held on April 21 after Maccanico is unable to form a Government
Treaty of Maastricht
Heads Portugal when it completes formal notification of ratification to the treaty depositary.
Inauguration
Sworn in as Governor of Autralia
Hubble Data Interface Unit Replaced
Lee helps replace a Data Interface Unit that routes commands and information between Hubble spacecraft systems.
Hubble Reaction Wheel Replaced
Lee helps replace a reaction wheel assembly used to turn Hubble toward targets and maintain stable pointing.
Hubble Solid State Recorder Installed
Smith helps replace a reel-to-reel recorder with a digital solid-state recorder capable of simultaneous recording and playback.
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Russia and NATO announce a resumption of contacts that were broken in Mar 1999 due to NATO bombing in Yugoslavia
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Russia and NATO announce a resumption of contacts that were broken in Mar 1999 due to NATO bombing in Yugoslavia
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Russia and NATO announce a resumption of contacts that were broken in Mar 1999 due to NATO bombing in Yugoslavia
Russia and NATO announce a resumption of contacts that were broken in
Russia and NATO announce a resumption of contacts that were broken in Mar 1999 due to NATO bombing in Yugoslavia
Russia and NATO announce a resumption of contacts that were broken in
Russia and NATO announce a resumption of contacts that were broken in Mar 1999 due to NATO bombing in Yugoslavia
Invasion of Iraq
The House of Representatives votes, 246-182, in favor of a nonbinding resolution that expresses support for US troops but criticizes President Bushs "surge" that calls for some 20,000 additional troops to be sent to Iraq
Siege of Baghdad
Despite an increase in violence in Bagdhad, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called the security offensive a "dazzling success"
Siege of Baghdad
Despite an increase in violence in Bagdhad, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called the security offensive a "dazzling success"
Swat Peace Agreement
Gillani's government supports a truce and legal changes intended to end fighting in Swat.
Swat Regulation
The federal government accepts a peace arrangement allowing Islamic regulation in the Swat region.
Champions League Equaliser Against Barcelona
Scores from a tight angle to equalise against Barcelona in Arsenal's Champions League round-of-16 victory.
Champions League Winning Goal Against Barcelona
Finishes a rapid counter-attack to give Arsenal a 2-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona.
Prime Minister Takes Office
Dorin Recean becomes Prime Minister after Gavrilita resigns
France Long-Term Defense Accord
Concludes a ten-year accord with Emmanuel Macron providing sustained military, political, financial and humanitarian cooperation.
Germany Long-Term Support Accord
Agrees with Olaf Scholz on ten years of defense support, emergency consultations and cooperation toward Euro-Atlantic integration.
Security Agreement with Ukraine
Signs a security agreement with Ukraine.
Security Agreement with Ukraine
Signs a security agreement with Ukraine.
M23 Capture of Bukavu
Faces a major loss of government control as M23 forces enter and capture Bukavu in South Kivu.
Two Million Additional Appointments
Starmer announces that more than two million additional NHS appointments were delivered early.
Births on February 16
Birth of John McEnroe
Birth of John McEnroe
Deaths on February 16
Death of Jovian
Death of Jovian, the male line of Constantius Chlorus is now extinct. Death of Jovian, suffocated in his sleep by charcoal fumes, foul play not suspected
Death of Robert Ouko
Death of Robert Ouko, assassinated
Death of Walter Winterbottom
Death of Walter Winterbottom
Navalny Death Reaction
Dies in a Russian prison during the war period.
Battles on February 16
Battle of Barcelona
Bolivar defeats Spanish forces under General Pablo Morillo
Second Battle of Pino del Agua
Rebel forces win another important engagement at Pino del Agua during the growth of the guerrilla war.