Friday, 16th January 1981 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 54 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings snowy with temperatures between -3°C and 7°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Capricorn. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Friday, 16th January in London, GB.
On this day in history, significant events unfolded across different continents and centuries, shaping the course of nations and societies. The League of Nations held its first council meeting in Paris in 1920, establishing itself as the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation dedicated to peace and security. This landmark development reflected the international community's commitment to preventing future conflicts through diplomatic engagement. Decades later, during the Battle of Bataan in 1942, U.S. Army sergeant Jose Calugas demonstrated exceptional courage by organising volunteers to man an artillery position under intense enemy fire, an action that would eventually earn him the Medal of Honor for his bravery and leadership during one of the Pacific War's most pivotal moments.
London, where snow fell on this date, remains one of the world's most significant political and cultural centres. The city has served as the capital of England and the United Kingdom for nearly a thousand years and continues to be the seat of government and a hub for international affairs.
On Friday, 16th January 1981, the weather in London was snowy, creating winter conditions across the city. The moon was in its waning crescent phase, and those born on this date fall under the zodiac sign of Capricorn, which is associated with discipline and determination. These astronomical and meteorological conditions provide the context for this particular day in history.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive information for any date and location, displaying weather conditions, historical events, and notable births and deaths. Users can explore how these factors intersected on specific days throughout history, offering a detailed perspective on the past.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 16th January 1981
Shadows lengthen before light returns.
Fortune of the Day
16th January in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on January 16th blend classic Capricorn ambition with subtle elegance from Venus influence. They appear reserved and grounded on the surface, yet harbor surprising emotional depth and aesthetic sensibility beneath.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths lie in discipline, practical thinking, and reliable determination. Emotional distance and excessive seriousness can emerge as weaknesses, potentially alienating others.
Love In relationships, these individuals are loyal and responsible but need time to open emotionally. Venus proximity grants them deeper emotional understanding than typical Capricorns possess.
Caree & Finance Professionally, they pursue security and advancement through structured work. Financial intelligence and long-term planning create solid wealth accumulation and career success.
Health Balanced routine is essential—overwork through constant control threatens wellbeing. Creative or sensual activities like yoga or dance help release inner tension and restore equilibrium.
That night, the moon was in its waning crescent phase.
Chinese year of the Monkey (Metal).
Fun Facts About 16th January
Name Days in Your Language: Aaliyah, Aleah, Aliyah, Paine, Payne, Phillis, Phyllis, Pilar, Priscilla.
Someone born on this day in 1981 would be 45 years old today — just 16,519 days into life, which is roughly 396,464 hours, 23,787,858 minutes, or 1,427,271,521 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 16. day of the year.
There are 349 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 3 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 16th January
- Stephan Lichtsteiner, Swiss footballer (1984)
- Miroslav Radović, Serbian footballer (1984)
- Emanuel Pogatetz, Austrian footballer (1983)
- Andriy Rusol, Ukrainian footballer (1983)
- Preston, English singer-songwriter (1982)
- Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Danish actress (1982)
- Tuncay, Turkish footballer (1982)
- Jamie Lundmark, Canadian ice hockey player (1981)
- Paul Rofe, Australian cricketer (1981)
- Nick Valensi, American musician and songwriter (1981)
Lives Remembered on 16th January
- David Lynch, American filmmaker and actor (born 1946) (2025)
- Dame Joan Plowright, English actress (born 1929) (2025)
- Bob Uecker, American professional baseball catcher and sportscaster (born 1934) (2025)
- Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Former Malian President (born 1945) (2022)
- Pedro Trebbau, German-born Venezuelan zoologist (born 1929) (2021)
- Chris Cramer, British journalist (born 1948) (2021)
- Phil Spector, American record producer, songwriter (born 1939) (2021)
- Christopher Tolkien, British academic and editor (born 1924) (2020)
- John C. Bogle, American businessman, investor, and philanthropist (born 1929) (2019)
- Lorna Doom, American musician (born 1958) (2019)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 16th January
- Christian feast day: Pope Benjamin (Coptic)
- Christian feast day: Berard of Carbio
- Christian feast day: Blaise (Armenian Apostolic)
- Christian feast day: Fursey
- Christian feast day: Joseph Vaz
- Christian feast day: Honoratus of Arles
- Christian feast day: Pope Marcellus I
- Christian feast day: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Coptic Church)
- Christian feast day: Titian of Oderzo
- Christian feast day: Eve of Saint Anthony observed with ritual bonfires in San Bartolomé de Pinares
- Christian feast day: January 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- National Religious Freedom Day (United States)
- Teachers' Day in Thailand and Myanmar
What Happened on 16th January?
- The first impeachment of Donald Trump formally moves into its trial phase in the United States Senate. (2020)
- The United States Senate ratifies the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement as a replacement for NAFTA. (2020)
- Myanmar police open fire on a group of ethnic Rakhine protesters, killing seven and wounding twelve. (2018)
- Turkish Airlines Flight 6491 crashes into a residential area near Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan, killing 39 people. (2017)
- Thirty-three out of 126 freed hostages are injured and 23 killed in terrorist attacks in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on a hotel and a nearby restaurant. (2016)
- The Mali War begins when Tuareg militias start fighting the Malian government for independence. (2012)
- Syrian civil war: The Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) is established with the stated goal of re-organizing Syria along the lines of democratic confederalism. (2011)
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is sworn in as Liberia's new president. She becomes Africa's first female elected head of state. (2006)
- The Space Shuttle Columbia takes off for mission STS-107 which would be its final one. Columbia disintegrated 16 days later on re-entry. (2003)
- War in Afghanistan: The UN Security Council unanimously establishes an arms embargo and the freezing of assets of Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the remaining members of the Taliban. (2002)