What Happened On This Day ? May 16
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1975
Junko Tabei becomes the first woman to conquer Mount Everest
The ascent by the Japanese adventurer came 22 years after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to reach the summit.
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1966
In China, the Cultural Revolution begins
The publication of the May 16 notification marks the beginning of the political campaign, which was initiated by Mao Zedong and lasted ten years. Its objective was to strengthen communism by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from Chinese society.
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1960
Theodore Maiman fires the first functional laser
The American physicist's invention, an advancement of earlier research by scientists in the U.S. and the Soviet Union, was patented in 1967.
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1929
The Oscars are awarded for the first time
The first Academy Awards were presented at a private dinner with about 270 attendees. Today, it is the world's most important entertainment awards ceremony.
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1919
Albert Cushing Read takes off on the first transatlantic flight in history
The crossing from New York State, USA to Lisbon, Portugal on a Curtiss NC-4 flying boat took 19 days.
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1966
Janet Jackson
American singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, actress
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1953
Pierce Brosnan
Irish/American actor, singer, producer
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1919
Liberace
American singer, pianist, actor
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1905
Henry Fonda
American actor, singer, producer
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1831
David Edward Hughes
Welsh/American scientist, co-invented the microphone
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2012
Maria Bie?u
Moldovan opera singer
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1990
Jim Henson
American puppeteer, director, producer, founded The Company
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1990
Sammy Davis, Jr.
American actor, singer, dancer
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1977
Modibo Keita
Malian politician, 1st President of Mali
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1953
Django Reinhardt
Belgian guitarist, composer