TODAY IN HISTORY - MARCH 16TH

1521 – Ferdinand Magellan, reached the island of Homonhon, in the Philippines, with 150 crew. Members of his expedition became the first Spaniards to reach the Philippine archipelago, but were not the first Europeans. He landed with three small ships, Concepcion, Trinidad and Victoria and called the place the Arcigelago de San Lazaro since it was the feast day of Saint Lazarus of Bethany.

1751 – James Madison, American academic and politician, 4th President of the United States (d. 1836) is born.

1870 – The first version of the overture fantasy Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky receives its première performance.

1906 – Henny Youngman, English-American violinist and comedian (d. 1998) is born.

1912 – Pat Nixon, American educator, 39th First Lady of the United States (d. 1993) is born.

1916 – The 7th and 10th US cavalry regiments under John J. Pershing cross the US–Mexico border to join the hunt for Pancho Villa.

1935 – Adolf Hitler orders Germany to rearm herself in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Conscription is reintroduced to form the Wehrmacht.

1949 – Erik Estrada, American actor and producer is born.

1958 – The Ford Motor Company produces its 50 millionth automobile, the Thunderbird, averaging almost a million cars a year since the company's founding.

1961 – Todd McFarlane, Canadian author, illustrator, and businessman, founded McFarlane Toys is born.

1966 – Launch of Gemini 8, the 12th manned American space flight and first space docking with the Agena target vehicle.

1984 – William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, Lebanon, is kidnapped by Islamic fundamentalists and later died in captivity.

1985 – Associated Press newsman Terry Anderson is taken hostage in Beirut. He is released on December 4, 19911988 – Iran–Contra affair: Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter are indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

1988 – Halabja chemical attack: The Kurdish town of Halabja in Iraq is attacked with a mix of poison gas and nerve agents on the orders of Saddam Hussein, killing 5000 people and injuring about 10000 people.

1995 – Mississippi formally ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment, becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment was officially ratified in 1865.