October 16

Today in History
• 1775 - Portland, Maine burned by British
• 1829 - Tremont Hotel, 1st US modern hotel opens (Boston)
• 1834 - Much of the ancient structures of the Palace of Westminster are burnt down
• 1839 - Joseph Saxton, inspector at the US Mint, takes 1st daguerrotype photograph in US
• 1841 - Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, is chartered
• 1846 - Dentist William T Morton demonstrates effectiveness of ether
• 1848 - 1st US homeopathic medical college opens in Pennsylvania
• 1859 - Abolitionist John Brown leads 21 men on a raid at Harpers Ferry, Virginia


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Day of the Races
• Dictionary Day
• Heroes and Forefathers Day
• National Department Store Day
• National Feral Cat Day
• National Heroes' Day of Jamaica
• National Veterans BBQ Day
• World Food Day

Birthdays
• 1430 - King James II of Scotland
• 1751 - Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt, Queen of Prussia
• 1754 - Morgan Lewis, Governor of New York (1804-07)
• 1758 - Noah Webster, American lexicographer (Webster's Dictionary)
• 1762 - Paul Hamilton, Governor of South Carolina (1804-06) and U.S. Secretary of Navy
• 1789 - William Burton, Governor of Delaware (1859-63)
• 1802 - Isaac Murphy, Governor of Arkansas (1864-68)
• 1815 - Francis Lubbock, Governor of Texas