26 fun facts for May, 16

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
May 16th is filled with remarkable events and celebrations, from the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929 to the launch of the first high-definition TV broadcast in the United States. The date also marks several birthdays of influential people, such as singer Janet Jackson and actor Pierce Brosnan.
26 Fun facts
  1. On May 16th, 1866, Congress approved the nickel coin, discontinuing the use of the half-dime. This newly introduced five-cent denomination featured the Shield design, changing the makeup of U.S. coinage dramatically.
  2. On May 16th, 1868, the impeachment trial of U.S. President Andrew Johnson ended, resulting in his acquittal. He was the first president to face impeachment but ultimately maintained his position as he narrowly avoided removal from office by just one Senate vote.
  3. May 16th, 1920, marked the canonization of Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake for heresy in 1431. Pope Benedict XV declared her a saint nearly 500 years after her death, cementing her status as a national hero in France.
  4. On May 16th, 1929, the very first Academy Awards ceremony took place. Held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California, the event had 270 attendees, and the entire ceremony lasted only 15 minutes.
  5. The birth of actor Pierce Brosnan took place on May 16th, 1953, in Ireland. He is best known for his portrayal of British secret agent James Bond in several films between 1995 and 2002.
  6. On May 16th, 1960, American physicist and inventor Theodore Maiman successfully fired the first operational laser. This revolutionary innovation has since been adopted across various sectors, including medicine, military, communication, and manufacturing.
  7. May 16th marks National Love a Tree Day in the United States, a day urging people to appreciate the beauty of trees and the vital role they play in the environment. The day encourages activities such as planting, maintaining, and celebrating trees.
  8. In Australia, May 16th is National Do Something Online Day - a day that encourages internet users to explore fresh online experiences, broaden their digital knowledge, and adopt new online activities.
  9. On May 16th, 1891, the International Electrotechnical Exhibition opened in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It showcased innovations in electrical power, including the world's first hydroelectric power plant and an electric railway.
  10. May 16th, 1843, marked the foundation of the highest-ranking French order of merit, called the Legion of Honor School, by King Louis-Philippe. Located in Saint-Denis, the school was established to educate the daughters of the elite order's members.
  11. On May 16th, 1965, the Campbell Soup Company introduced SpaghettiOs, surprising the world with its fun, innovative, canned pasta product. The catchy "Uh-oh, SpaghettiOs!" slogan added to its popularity.
  12. In Japan, May 16th is National Cleaning Day (Osoji no Hi), where citizens strive to have a clean nation by engaging in collective cleaning activities ranging from homes, streets, parks, shores, and rivers.
  13. On May 16th in 1961, Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles became the only player in Major League Baseball history to hit grand slams (home runs with bases loaded) in consecutive innings, cementing his place in MLB records.
  14. May 16th, 1919, marks the establishment of The Winnipeg General Strike in Canada, a labor action that involved over 30,000 workers and lasted six weeks. It was the largest strike in Canadian history and played a significant role in the development of the nation's labor movement.
  15. On May 16th, 1929, the first Oscar statuettes were officially patented, paving the way for the Academy Awards ceremony's debut.
  16. May 16th is National Mimosa Day in the United States, a day celebrating the popular brunch cocktail made from orange juice and champagne.
  17. On May 16th, 2008, the American action-adventure film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Steven Spielberg, it brought back the iconic character of Indiana Jones after 19 years.
  18. The birthday of acclaimed American artist Frank Stella falls on May 16th. Born in 1936, Stella played a key role in shaping minimalism, post-painterly abstraction, and other modern art movements.
  19. On May 16th, 1963, astronaut Gordon Cooper completed the final mission of Project Mercury, orbiting the Earth 22 times in a space capsule named Faith 7. This mission paved the way for the United States to initiate more ambitious space projects like Project Gemini and Apollo.
  20. May 16th, 1991, saw the launch of the first high-definition TV (HDTV) broadcast in the United States. The format has since become the industry standard, radically improving telecommunication and broadcasting quality.
  21. Singer Janet Jackson, a popular music icon and sister of Michael Jackson, was born on May 16th, 1966. Her albums Control, Rhythm Nation 1814, and Janet are considered milestones in contemporary pop and R&B music.
  22. On May 16th, 1988, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a television parody of a song by singer Roy Orbison did not violate copyright law, solidifying the importance of the First Amendment's protection of free expression.
  23. On May 16th, 2004, the final episode of the American TV series Frasier aired. The show was a spin-off of the beloved sitcom Cheers and had a successful 11-season run, earning numerous awards over the years.
  24. May 16th is National Coquilles St. Jacques Day in the United States, a day dedicated to celebrating the classic French seafood dish featuring scallops in a creamy mushroom sauce.
  25. In 1974, on May 16th, Josip Broz Tito, the president of Yugoslavia, was elected president-for-life by the country's parliament. This allowed Tito to remain in office until his death in 1980.
  26. May 16th, 2001, marked the NATO admission of Albania and Croatia. A formal signing ceremony for the accession protocols took place, marking the beginning of the two countries' NATO membership process.

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