Fun Facts: March 16 edition

I've done it before, I'll do it again. When completely writer's cramped, Marty will go for the cheap out. In other words, I present: This Day in History, March 16.

Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians on March 16, 597 BC. I've always wondered how they knew back then it was BC.

Today in 1792, King Gustav of Sweden was assassinated at a masquerade ball. Way to put a damper on a party, Count Jacob Johan Anckarström, the shooter. And shooting the king in the back, no less!

March 16, 1802, saw the creation of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Go Army!

In 1829, Ohio created High School night classes. This is critical to me as I taught night school for almost 25 years. Go Ohio!

In 1830, the year after 1829, March 16 saw the slowest day in New York Stock Exchange history as only 31 shares were traded. It must have dull waiting for the closing bell.

On March 16, 1872, the first Football Association (soccer) championship was held as the Wanderers beat the Royal Engineers 1-0. This was followed by the first soccer riot when a passer-by was apprehended and forced to watch the entire match.

The American League was formed on March 16, 1900. The Chicago White Stockings, Washington Senators, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Blues, Boston Americans, Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and the DETROIT TIGERS were the original eight teams. Go Tigers!

By the 1900s there are so many things listed on the sites I've trolled that I don't care to cull through them. So for everyone out there, This Day in History (until 1900).

On this day in history

Isn't the Internet wonderful? All that information right at your fingertips. And it's all true!

Well, one hopes such is the case. Either way, a quick lookup of March 16 in history brings us the following interesting facts and factoids.

The America League was announced on March 16, 1900. That's good for Detroit Tiger fans. Did you know that the Tigers are the only AL team still in its original city, dating from the formation of the Western League (which evolved into the AL) in 1894. Yep. Just us.

For my Canadian friends, or I suppose hockey fans anywhere, The Ottawa Senators beat Port Arthur for the Stanley Cup on March 16, 1911.

Of interest to both Canada and the US, the two countries signed a migratory bird treaty on 3/16/16. Okay, that's a yawner, yes.

Hitler ordered German rearmament on this day in 1935. Surprisingly, not every event can be good. The Nazis also occupied Czechoslovakia on the date in 1938.

The Allies secured Iwo Jima on March 16, 1945.

The United States accepted the Panama Canal Treaty on March 16, 1978, which provided for the return of the Canal Zone to Panama.

There's more of course, but these are a few, just to whet your whistle. As I say, you can find these and more with a simple web search. No reason I have to do all the work for you.