Notable Birthdays for January 16
John C. Breckinridge (1821-1875) - General and the 14th Vice President of the U.S.
Homer Burton Adkins (1892-1949) - Chemist considered the world authority on the hydrogenation of organic compounds.
Nat Schachner (1895-1995) - Chemist and author who was a significant advocate for the development of rockets for space travel.
Frank Zamboni (1901-1988) - Inventor of the modern ice resurfacer.
Ethel Merman (1908-1984) - Actress and comedian who is still referred to as the "undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage."
Carl Karcher (1917-2008) - Founder of Carl's Jr.
Francesco Scavullo (1921-2004) - Photographer famous for his celebrity photos.
Gene Feist (1923-2014) - Co-founder of the Roundabout Theatre Company.
Anthony Hecht (1923-2004) - Poet whose work focused around harsh reality, such as his many works about the Holocaust.
James Robinson Risner (1925-2013) - General and and a POW of the Vietnam War.
Dian Fossey (1932-1985) - Zoologist and anthropologist who studied gorillas.
Bob Bogle (1934-2009) - Rock guitarist and founder of the band the Ventures.
Ronnie Milsap (1943-Still Living) - Country music singer.
Jill Tarter (1944-Still Living) - Astronomer and biologist who studied extraterrestrials.
John Carpenter (1948-Still Living) - Director and screenwriter most commonly associated with horror and science fiction movies.
Anne F. Beiler (1949-Still Living) - Founder of Auntie Anne's.
Debbie Allen (1950-Still Living) - Actress and choreographer known for her role in Fame.
Memorable Events for January 16
1786 - Virginia enacts the Statute for Religious Freedom.
1883 - Civil Service is enacted by Congress.
2001 - President Clinton awards former President Theodore Roosevelt a posthumous Medal of Honor.
1870 - Virginia becomes 8th state readmitted to U.S.
1919 - The 18th Amendment (prohibition of alcohol) is ratified by the U.S. states.
1939 - The newspaper comic strip Superman debuts.
1941 - Vice Admiral Bellinger warns of an assault on Pearl Harbor.
1941 - The War Department forms the first Black Army Air Corps squadron.
1942 - William Knudsen becomes the first civilian appointed General in U.S. Army.
1986 - The first meeting of the Internet Engineering Task Force takes place.