September 16

Today in History
• 1575 - King Johan Casimir of Palts promises military aid to the Huguenots
• 1620 - The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England, with 102 Pilgrims and about 30 crew
• 1630 - Massachusetts village of Shawmut changes its name to Boston
• 1702 - Emperor Leopold I declares war on France, Cologne and Bavaria
• 1810 - Mexico issues Grito de Dolores, calling for the end of Spanish rule
• 1848 - Slavery abolished in all French territories
• 1858 - 1st overland mail for California
• 1908 - Carriage-maker, William C. Durant, founds General Motors in Flint, Michigan


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Batman Day
• Malaysia Day
• Mayflower Day
• Mexican Independence Day
• Papua New Guinea Independence Day
• Usher Syndrome Awareness Day
• World Barber Day
• World Ozone Day

Birthdays
• 1387 - Henry VHenry V, King of England (1413-22)
• 1507 - Jiajing, 12th Emperor of Ming Dynasty of China
• 1782 - Daoguang, 8th Emperor of Qing Dynasty
• 1822 - Charles Crocker, business tycoon and railroad executive (Central Pacific Railroad)
• 1823 - Michael Obrenovic, ruler of Serbia (1839-42,1860-68)
• 1837 - Pedro V van Alcantara, King of Portugal (1853-61)
• 1875 - James Cash Penney, American department store founder (J C Penney)
• 1888 - W. O. Bentley, engineer and motoring pioneer who founded Bentley Motors