The 1910s

1916 110 years ago

The National Defense Act is signed into law, increasing the size of the United States National Guard by 450,000 men

The National Defense Act of 1916, Pub. L. 64–85, 39 Stat. 166, enacted June 3, 1916, was a United States federal law that updated the Militia Act of 1903, which related to the orga…

The National Defense Act is signed into law, increasing the size of the United States National Guard by 450,000 men

1916 110 years ago

World War I: Russia opens the Brusilov Offensive with an artillery barrage of Austro-Hungarian lines in Galicia

World War I, or the First World War, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Central Powers. Major areas of conflict included …

World War I: Russia opens the Brusilov Offensive with an artillery barrage of Austro-Hungarian lines in Galicia

1916 110 years ago

Jane Jacobs, American-Canadian journalist, author, and activist (died 2006)

Jane Isabel Jacobs was an American-Canadian journalist, author, theorist, and activist who influenced urban studies, sociology, and economics. Her book The Death and Life of Great …

Jane Jacobs, American-Canadian journalist, author, and activist (died 2006)

1916 110 years ago

Zail Singh, Indian politician, 7th President of India (died 1994)

Giani Zail Singh was an Indian politician who served as President of India from 1982 to 1987 and chief minister of Punjab in the 1970s. He was the first Sikh to become president.

Zail Singh, Indian politician, 7th President of India (died 1994)

1916 110 years ago

Robert H

Robert Henry Dicke was an American astronomer and physicist who made important contributions to the fields of astrophysics, atomic physics, cosmology and gravity. He was the Albert…

Robert H

1916 110 years ago

Behçet Necatigil, Turkish author, poet, and translator (died 1979)

Behçet Necatigil, Turkish poet, teacher and translator who is often considered to be one of the most important poets of modern Turkish poetry. His paternal family originated from K…

Behçet Necatigil, Turkish author, poet, and translator (died 1979)

1916 110 years ago

Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, world's first female prime minister (died 2000)

Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike, commonly known as Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was a Sri Lankan politician who served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1960 to 1965, from 1970 to 19…

Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, world's first female prime minister (died 2000)

1916 110 years ago

Yoko Matsuoka, Japanese writer (died 1979)

Yoko Matsuoka was a Japanese writer, literary agent, translator, and anti-war and women's rights activist. She was born in Tokyo and was educated in Japan and Korea before being se…

Yoko Matsuoka, Japanese writer (died 1979)

1916 110 years ago

Ivo Lola Ribar, Yugoslav communist politician, military leader, and People's Hero of Yugoslavia (died 1943)

Ivan Ribar, known as Ivo Lola or Ivo Lolo, was a Yugoslav Croat communist politician and military leader. In the 1930s, he became one of the closest associates of Josip Broz Tito, …

Ivo Lola Ribar, Yugoslav communist politician, military leader, and People's Hero of Yugoslavia (died 1943)

1916 110 years ago

Richard Proenneke, American soldier, carpenter, and meteorologist (died 2003)

Richard Louis Proenneke was an American self-educated naturalist, conservationist, writer, and wildlife photographer who, from the age of about 51, lived alone for nearly thirty ye…

Richard Proenneke, American soldier, carpenter, and meteorologist (died 2003)

1916 110 years ago

Camilo José Cela, Spanish author and politician, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2002)

Camilo José Cela y Trulock, 1st Marquess of Iria Flavia was a Spanish novelist, poet, story writer and essayist associated with the Generation of '36 movement.

Camilo José Cela, Spanish author and politician, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2002)

1916 110 years ago

Robert F

Robert Frederick Christy was a Canadian-American theoretical physicist and later astrophysicist who was one of the last surviving people to have worked on the Manhattan Project dur…

Robert F

1916 110 years ago

Marco Zanuso, Italian architect and designer (died 2001)

Marco Zanuso was an Italian architect and designer associated with modernism.

Marco Zanuso, Italian architect and designer (died 2001)

1916 110 years ago

Vera Gebuhr, Danish actress (died 2014)

Vera Margrethe Gebuhr was a Danish film, television and stage actress. Gebuhr was most noted for her portrayal of the snobbish neurotic head saleswoman Miss Jørgensen in the popula…

Vera Gebuhr, Danish actress (died 2014)

1916 110 years ago

João Havelange, Brazilian water polo player, lawyer, and businessman (died 2016)

Jean-Marie Faustin Godefroid "João" de Havelange was a Brazilian lawyer, businessman, and athlete who was the seventh president of FIFA from 1974 to 1998. His tenure as president i…

João Havelange, Brazilian water polo player, lawyer, and businessman (died 2016)

1916 110 years ago

Chinmayananda Saraswati, Indian spiritual leader and educator (died 1993)

Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati, also known as Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati, was a Hindu spiritual leader and a teacher. In 1953, he founded Chinmaya Mission, a worldw…

Chinmayananda Saraswati, Indian spiritual leader and educator (died 1993)

1916 110 years ago

Ephraim Katzir, Israeli biophysicist and politician, 4th President of Israel (died 2009)

Ephraim Katzir was an Israeli biophysicist and Labor Party politician. He was the president of Israel from 1973 until 1978.

Ephraim Katzir, Israeli biophysicist and politician, 4th President of Israel (died 2009)

1916 110 years ago

Owen Chadwick, English rugby player, historian, and academic (died 2015)

William Owen Chadwick was a British Anglican priest, academic, rugby international, writer and prominent historian of Christianity. As a leading academic, Chadwick became Dixie Pro…

Owen Chadwick, English rugby player, historian, and academic (died 2015)

1916 110 years ago

Alexey Maresyev, Russian soldier and pilot (died 2001)

Aleksey Petrovich Maresyev was a Soviet and Russian military pilot who became a Soviet fighter ace during World War II despite becoming a double amputee.

Alexey Maresyev, Russian soldier and pilot (died 2001)

1916 110 years ago

Ondina Valla, Italian sprinter and hurdler (died 2006)

Trebisonda "Ondina" Valla was an Italian female athlete, and the first Italian woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal. She won it in the 80 m hurdles event at the 1936 Summer Olym…

Ondina Valla, Italian sprinter and hurdler (died 2006)

1916 110 years ago

Dennis Day, American singer and actor (died 1988)

Dennis Day was an American actor, comedian, and singer. He was of Irish descent.

Dennis Day, American singer and actor (died 1988)

1916 110 years ago

Tinus Osendarp, Dutch sprinter and police officer (died 2002)

Martinus Bernardus "Tinus" Osendarp was a Dutch sprint runner.

Tinus Osendarp, Dutch sprinter and police officer (died 2002)

1916 110 years ago

Harold Robbins, American author and screenwriter (died 1997)

Harold Robbins was an American author. One of the best-selling writers of all time, he wrote over 25 best-sellers, selling over 750 million copies in 32 languages.

Harold Robbins, American author and screenwriter (died 1997)

1916 110 years ago

Roden Cutler, Australian lieutenant and politician, 32nd Governor of New South Wales (died 2002)

Sir Arthur Roden Cutler, was an Australian diplomat, the longest-serving Governor of New South Wales and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the …

Roden Cutler, Australian lieutenant and politician, 32nd Governor of New South Wales (died 2002)