On 16 September in poetry and history
Poets born or who died on this date, plus historical events that happened on this day across history.
610 poets with calendar dates · 6,535 events with calendar dates in the catalogue
1 birthday · 2 death anniversaries · 7 world events on 16 September
Birthdays
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Alfred Noyes
16 September 1880 – 25 June 1958 (~78)
Born 16 September 1880 — would have been 146 in 2026
Death anniversaries
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Ronald Ross
13 May 1857 – 16 September 1932 (~75)
Died 16 September 1932 — 94 years ago on this date
World events on this day
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Montreal Protocol Bans Ozone-Depleting Refrigerants
In 1987, the Montreal Protocol, signed in Montreal, Canada, mandated the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances used in air conditioning and refrigeration. This global treaty transformed the HVAC industry.
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Launch of the Pilgrim Fathers
The Mayflower set sail in 1620, carrying English separatists known as the Pilgrim Fathers to North America, where they established Plymouth Colony. This voyage is considered a foundational event in Anglo-American history, symbolizing the quest for religious freedom and self-governance. The Pilgrims' experiences and interactions with Indigenous peoples would shape the early social and political landscape of what would become the United States.
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First Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty
In 1977, Andreas Gruentzig performed the first percutaneous coronary angioplasty. The procedure used a balloon catheter to open narrowed coronary arteries without open surgery. It helped create interventional cardiology, a field deeply dependent on anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs.
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Toni Morrison Engages with the History of Insect Infestation and Slavery
Toni Morrison's Beloved (1987), which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, is set in the aftermath of slavery in the American South and engages intimately with the bodily realities of slave life, including the insects, parasites, and physical degradations that enslaved people endured. Morrison depicts the horrors of the Middle Passage and the slave quarters in ways that include the insects and vermin that were inescapable aspects of the dehumanising conditions of slavery, connecting bodily parasitic suffering to the broader structure of racial exploitation.
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Birth of Hildegard of Bingen
Born in 1098, Hildegard of Bingen was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, and mystic. Her contributions to music, theology, and natural history were groundbreaking for her time, and she is recognized as one of the first female composers in Western history. Hildegard's visionary works and insights into spirituality and the natural world continue to inspire and influence contemporary thought.
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FDA Approves First Female Condom
In 1993, the FDA approved the FC1 polyurethane female condom, marking a significant advancement in reproductive health and sexual wellness. This approval provided women with an additional option for pregnancy and STI prevention, empowering them to take control of their sexual health. The introduction of the female condom has contributed to broader discussions about safe sex practices and women's rights.
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Xerox 914 Copier Introduction
Haloid Company (later Xerox) introduced the Model 914 copier in Rochester, New York, United States, the first plain-paper automatic copying machine. Using xerography technology developed by Chester Carlson, this device produced copies quickly without special paper or chemicals, revolutionizing document reproduction. Though initially expensive and prone to jams, the 914 copier enabled decentralized information distribution and facilitated bureaucratic expansion, becoming ubiquitous in offices worldwide.