On This Day In ...

• Aug 16 1897: The Belgica under the command of Andrien de Gerlache sets sail from Antwerp, heading to Antarctica. Among the crew are Roald Amundsen, Henryk Arctowski, and Frederick Cook.
• Aug 16 1901: Coal loading having been delayed by a fiesta, Discovery leaves Madeira.

• Aug 16 1902: Georgette Heyer, writer best known for Regency romance novels, born in Wimbledon, London, England.
• Aug 16 2012: Publication of Watching the Dark, the 20th Inspector Banks novel by Peter Robinson.

• Aug 16 1876: World première performance of Siegfried, the third of four operas in the Ring cycle by Richard Wagner. The opera was performed at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, Germany, and was conducted by Hans Richter.

• Aug 16 1848: Charles and Emma Darwin's seventh child and third son, Francis, born at Down House, Kent. Francis became a distinguished botanist and also edited his father's letters for publication.

• Aug 16 1769: Peter Fidler, fur trader and surveyor, born in Bolsover, England.
• Aug 16 1892: First match between the Edmonton and Calgary cricket clubs. The visiting team, Calgary, won by 106 runs to 59.

• Aug 16 1969: Carvings of Sanchi exhibition opens.
• Aug 16 1988: Theatre of Empire: 300 Years of Maps of the Maritimes exhibition closes.
• Aug 16 1991: Chinese Photographic Society: Photographs exhibition opens.
• Aug 16 1992: Live! Bug Room exhibition closes.
• Aug 16 2012: A new book, Tyler's Facts on Frass, went on sale in the Museum Shop. Written by Jessica Glombick and illustrated by Valerie Damen, the book was inspired by the work of Dr Tyler Cobb, Curator of Invertebrate Zoology.
• Aug 16 2016: Completion of the downtown Museum building is marked by an oak-tree-planting ceremony at the site.

This presentation has been compiled and is © 1998-2012 by
Alwynne B. Beaudoin (bluebulrush@gmail.com)
Last updated March 12, 2012
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