On This Day ... Aug. 16

In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, General John Stark led American forces defeat British troops at the Battle of Bennington in New York.

In 1780, the British defeat the Americans near Camden, South Carolina.

In 1841, President John Tyler vetoes a bill that would have re-established the Second Bank of the United States. This leads to a violent riot outside the White House by Whig Party members.

Though operable for only a few weeks, President James Buchanan inaugurates a transatlantic telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in 1858.

In 1896, the Klondike Gold Rush sparks when three men discover gold in the Klondike River in Canada.

In 1906, 3,886 people are killed in an earthquake in Valparaiso, Chile.

In 1920, Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians is hit in the head by a fastball and dies the next day.

In 1930, Ub Iwerks makes the first color sound cartoon “Fiddlesticks.”

In 1942, the two crew members on the U.S. naval blimp L-8 disappear without a trace on an anti-submarine patrol over the Pacific Ocean. The blimp later crash lands in Daly City, CA.

In 1989, a solar flare creates a geomagnetic storm that affects microchips, leading to a halt of all trading on Toronto’s stock market.

English writer T.E. Lawrence was born in 1888. Poet Charles Bukowski was born in 1920. Singer Eydie Gorme was born in 1928. Pro wrestler Fritz Von Erich was born in 1929. Actor Robert Culp was born in 1930. Football announcer Frank Gifford was born in 1930. Actress Julie Newmar (Catwoman on Batman) was born in 1933. Actress Lesley Ann Warren was born in 1946. Pro wrestler Dick Murdoch was born in 1946. Actor Reginald VelJohnson (Carl Winslow on Family Matters) was born in 1952. Today host Kathie Lee Gifford was born in 1953. Director James Cameron was born in 1954. Actress Angela Bassett was born in 1958. Singer Madonna was born in 1958. Actor Timothy Hutton was born in 1960. Actor Steve Carell was born in 1962. Rapper Killah Priest was born in 1970. Singer Vanessa Carlton was born in 1980.

Blues singer Robert Johnson died in 1938. Baseball player Babe Ruth died in 1948. Actor Bela Lugosi died in 1956. Singer, actor and guitarist Elvis Presley died in 1977. Dictator Idi Amin died in 2003.