This Day in History- July 16

1661: Banknotes issued in Europe
1st banknotes in Europe were issued by the Bank of Stockholm on July 16, 1661. Stockholms Banco was founded in 1657 by Johan Palmstruch in Stockholm, began printing banknotes in 1661, but ran into financial difficulties and was liquidated in 1667.

1769: Mission San Diego
Father Junipero Serra founded the Mission San Diego, the 1st mission in California on July 16, 1769. Junípero Serra was a Roman Catholic Spanish priest. He is credited with establishing the Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1938: PGA Championship Men’s Golf
The 1934 champion Paul Runyan dominated the heavily favored Sam Snead, 8 & 7; largest victory margin ever in the event’s match play format on July 16, 1938. 

1940: Operation Sealion
Adolf Hitler ordered the preparations for the invasion of Britain on July 16, 1940. Operation Sea Lion was Nazi Germany’s code name for the plan for an invasion of the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War.

1945: Detonation of Atomic bomb
The 1st test detonation of an atomic bomb, Trinity Site, Alamogordo, New Mexico, was part of the US Manhattan Project on July 16, 1945. 

1951: ‘Catcher in Rye’ published
The Novel “Catcher in Rye” by J. D. Salinger was published by Little Brown and Company on July 16, 1951. Before its publication, Salinger published several short stories in Story magazine and served in World War II. 

1957: Transcontinental speed record
The US Marine Major John Glenn set a transcontinental speed record on July 16, 1957. John Glenn was the third American in space, and the first American to orbit the Earth, circling it three times in 1962. 

1969: Apollo 11 Launched
Apollo 11 was launched which carried the 1st men to land on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin formed the American crew that landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969,

2005: The 6th book of J.K Rowling Published
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, the 6th book in the series by J. K. Rowling was published worldwide in 2005. 9 million copies were sold in 24 hrs. 

1821: Mary Baker Eddy
An American founder of the religious movement, Christian Science (Science & Health) was born in Bow, New Hampshire in 1821.

1872: Roald Amundsen
A Norwegian polar explorer who led the 1st expedition to the South Pole was born in Borge, Ostfold, Norway on July 16, 1872. 

1907: Orville Redenbacher
An American popcorn magnate was born in Brazil, Indiana.

1911: Ginger Rogers 
An American actress, dancer, and singer was born in Independence, Missouri on July 16, 1911. 

1958: Michael Flatley
An Irish choreographer was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1958.

1979: Kim Rhode
An American double trap and skeet shooter who won Olympic Gold in 1996, 2004 & 2012 was born in Whittier, California in 1979.