Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/June 16

June 16: Bloomsday in Dublin, Ireland; Youth Day in South Africa

• 1745 - King George's War: British colonial forces led by William Pepperrell captured the French stronghold at Fortress Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island after a six-week siege.

• 1846 - Pius IX (pictured) was elected pope, beginning the longest reign of all popes (not counting the Apostle St. Peter).

• 1963 - Aboard Vostok 6, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space.

• 1976 - Apartheid in South Africa: Police in Soweto opened fire on schoolchildren protesting against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in township schools, triggering a series of nationwide demonstrations, strikes, riots and violence.

• 1999 - Thabo Mbeki was inaugurated President of South Africa.

Recent days: June 15 – June 14 – June 13

More anniversaries:

• May 31
• June 1
• June 2