Dan Quayle

January 16, 1992

U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle states, "George Bush will lead us out of this recovery."

Paul McCartney Arrested in Japan

January 16, 1980

The ex-Beatle Paul McCartney is imprisoned in Japan after the discovery of marijuana in his luggage. He had just landed in a Tokyo airport with his wife, children, and band Wings when customs found eight ounces of marijuana in his suitcase. Japanese authorities held him in prison for nine days before releasing him without charge and deporting him to England. He could have faced a potential seven-year prison sentence.
The band's 11 scheduled concerts in Japan were canceled.
McCartney had been denied a Japanese entry visa five years earlier due to his earlier drug arrests. McCartney had been arrested for marijuana possession in Sweden 1972, Scotland in 1973, and in Los Angeles in 1975. And he was arrested again for marijuana possession in 1984 in Barbados.
His band Wings disbanded shortly after their arrival back in England.

Human Interferon

January 16, 1980

Scientists in Boston announce that the natural virus-fighting substance has been manufactured using gene-splicing techniques.

League of Nations

January 16, 1920

League of Nations inaugurated. It was created by the Treaty of Versailles.

Merit Systems Protection Board

January 16, 1883

Merit Systems Protection Board is established, protects the integrity of federal merit systems and the rights of federal employees working in the systems.

John Carpenter

Born January 16, 1948

American Oscar-winning film director. John Carpenter is best known for the Halloween movie franchise and numerous low-budget cult classics.
Carpenter made the original Halloween (1978) for $300,000. It grossed more than $65 million in its initial release, making it one of the most successful independent films of all time. It was also Jamie Lee Curtis' film debut.
Film: Dark Star (1974), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), Starman (1984), Prince of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988), and In the Mouth of Madness (1995).

Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Born January 16, 1947

American radio talk show host. She is known for her non-codling direct approach to her caller's problems.

Ronnie Milsap

Born January 16, 1943

American Grammy-winning Country Music Hall of Fame singer. He was born almost completely blind and abandoned by his mother to be raised by his grandparents. Music: Stand By My Woman Man (1976, Grammy).

A.J. Foyt

Born January 16, 1935

American auto racer. Winner of the Indy 500 (1961, 64, 67, 77), Daytona 500 (1972), and 24 Hours of LeMans (1967).

Dizzy Dean (Jay Hanna Dean)

Born January 16, 1910 d. 1974

American baseball Hall of Famer and sports announcer.

André Michelin

Born January 16, 1853 d. 1931

French tire maker. He and his brother founded the Michelin Tire Co. (1888). He also started publishing the Michelin Guide (1900) to promote tourism by car and thus boost the tire industry.

Johannes Schoner

Born January 16, 1477 d. 1547

German geographer. He was the first to make a globe showing the Americas (1515).

René I

Born January 16, 1409 d. 1480

King of Naples (1435-42), titular King of Naples (1435-80).

Mr. Baseball

Bob Uecker

Died January 16, 2025 b. 1934

American baseball catcher, actor. "Mr. Baseball". Uecker was the primary broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball.
TV: Mr. Belvedere (1985-90. George).

Last Man on the Moon

Eugene Andrew Cernan

Died January 16, 2017 b. 1934

American astronaut. He was the last man on the Moon (1972). Upon reentering the Lunar Module after making the last Moon walk: "…America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17."

Dear Abby

Abigail Van Buren (Pauline Esther Friedman)

Died January 16, 2013 b. 1918

American advice columnist of "Dear Abby" fame. She is the twin sister of advice columnist Ann Landers (Esther Pauline Friedman).

Ted Cassidy (Theodore Crawford Cassidy)

Died January 16, 1979 b. 1932

American 6 ft 9 inch (206 cm) tall actor. TV: The Addams Family (1964-66, Lurch and Thing) and The Incredible Hulk (opening narrator and voice for Hulk's growls and roars).
During the time of the Kennedy assassination, he was working as a daytime disc jockey in Dallas and gave an in-studio radio report on the day of the assassination and was one of the first to interview eyewitnesses.

First African American to Serve in the U.S. Congress

Hiram Rhodes Revels

Died January 16, 1901 b. 1827

American minister, politician. He was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress. He was elected to the U.S. Senate representing Mississippi in 1870-71 during the Reconstruction era. Some senators initially blocked his seating on grounds that Mississippi was under military rule and lacked a civil government to confirm his election. Others claimed Revels was not a U.S. citizen until the passage of the 14th Amendment and was therefore ineligible to become a U.S. Senator. He was finally seated on February 25, 1870.

Gina Lollobrigida (Luigia Lollobrigida)

Died January 16, 2023 b. 1927

Italian actress, photographer, one of the most glamorous stars of the 1950s.

Phil Spector

Died January 16, 2021 b. 1939

American Grammy-winning music producer. Known as the "Tycoon of Teen," he developed the "Wall of Sound" recording technique. In 2009, he was convicted of the 2003 shooting death of Lana Clarkson in his home. Music: You've Lost the Lovin' Feeling (producer/co-writer. It is the most played song in the U.S.).

Bradford Dillman

Died January 16, 2018 b. 1930

American actor. TV: Falcon Crest (Darryl Clayton).

Dave Madden (David Joseph Madden)

Died January 16, 2014 b. 1931

Canadian-born American actor. TV: The Partridge Family (1970-1974, child-hating manager Reuben Kincaid). In real life, he took in costar Danny Bonaduce during Bonaduce's family's domestic strife.

Ron Carey

Died January 16, 2007 b. 1935

American actor. TV: Barney Miller (1976-82, Officer Carl Levitt). Film: Silent Movie (1976), High Anxiety (1977), and History of the World: Part I (1981).

Bernard Lee

Died January 16, 1981 b. 1908

British actor. Film: Bond's superior M in the first 11 James Bond movies.

Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.

Died January 16, 1972 b. 1919

American novelty musician. As David Seville, he was the manager of Alvin and the Chipmunks. He co-wrote Come On-a My House, Rosemary Clooney's all-time biggest hit. He bought 220 acres of Thompson seedless grapes near Fresno and named it the Chipmunk Ranch.

Carole Lombard (Jane Alice Peters)

Died January 16, 1942 b. 1908

American actress. Film: Nothing Sacred (1937) and To Be or Not to Be (1942).

Ma Barker (Arizona Donnie Clark)

Died January 16, 1935 b. 1873

American outlaw. Supposedly headed a gang which included her four sons. She and her youngest son were gunned down by FBI agents.

Reginald De Koven

Died January 16, 1920 b. 1859

American operatic composer. Music: Oh, Promise Me (1889), Robin Hood (1890), and The Golden Butterfly (1908).

George Dewey

Died January 16, 1917 b. 1837

American naval officer. Noted for his spectacular defeat of the Spanish during the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War (1898). He was also the first and only U.S. Admiral of the Navy (1899).

The Customer Is Always Right

Marshall Field

Died January 16, 1906 b. 1834

American businessman. He founded the department store chain bearing his name. He died of pneumonia contracted while playing golf with Abraham Lincoln's son Robert Todd Lincoln. The quote "The customer is always right" is attributed to him.

Edward Gibbon

Died January 16, 1794 b. 1737

English author. Writings: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Johannes Schoner

Died January 16, 1547 b. 1477

German geographer. He was the first to make a globe showing the Americas (1515).

Saint Marcellus I

Died January 16, 309 b. ????

Italian religious leader, 30th Pope (308-309).