January 16 in History

• 1605

  January 16, 1605:

  “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes is published for the first time.

• 1883

  January 16, 1883:

  The United States’ Civil Service Commission is established by the Pendleton Civil Service Act.

• 1938

  January 16, 1938:

  Benny Goodman becomes the first jazz artist to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City.

• 1942

  January 16, 1942:

  American actress Carole is killed with others in a crash involving the plane TWA DC-3.

• 1973

  January 16, 1973:

  The Western television series, “Bonanza” airs its series finale episode.

• 1991

  January 16, 1991:

  The Persian Gulf War starts.

• 1992

  January 16, 1992:

  The Chapultepec Peace Accords are signed by the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front and the government of El Salvador to bring an end to the country’s civil war.

• 1997

  January 16, 1997:

  Comedian and actor Bill Cosby loses his 27-year-old son, Ennis to murder.

• 2006

  January 16, 2006:

  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is sworn in as Liberia’s first female president while also making history as Africa’s first female head of state.