April 16

1660

Sir Hans Sloane, physician and naturalist, is born in Killyleagh, Co. Down

Ireland

He was elected to the Royal Society at the age of 24. Sloane travelled to the Caribbean in 1687 and documented his travels and findings with extensive publications years later. …

1746

Charles Edward Stewart defeated at Battle of Culloden, Scotland

Scotland

The Battle of Culloden was the last military clash in mainland Britain, between the forces of the Jacobites and those of the reigning Hanoverians in the 45 Jacobite Rising. The …

1752

The first regular stage-coach service between Dublin and Belfast commences

Ireland

The first stage coach service from Dublin to Belfast opened on the 16th of April 1752. The service was part of a campaign of improved infrastructure in Ireland. All of the stage …

1850

Samuel Butcher, scholar, is born in Dublin

Ireland

Samuel Henry Butcher DCL LLD FRSE FBA (16 April 1850 – 29 December 1910) was an Anglo-Irish classical scholar and politician. Samuel Henry Butcher was born in Dublin to Samuel …

1871

John Millington Synge, poet, playwright, and student of Irish language and culture, is born in Dublin

Ireland

Edmund John Millington Synge (16 April 1871 – 24 March 1909) was an Irish playwright, poet, writer, collector of folklore, and a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival. His …

1953

Royal yacht Britannia launched at John Browns shipyard, Clydebank.

Scotland

Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy. She was in their service from 1954 until 1997. She was the 83rd such vessel since King …