Monday, 16th January 1961 in Paris
Welcome to your daily snapshot of Paris! Explore 54 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in Paris. 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 Paris brings cloudy with temperatures between -3°C and 1°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing gibbous 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 Monday, 16th January in Paris, FR.
On 16 January 1961, Paris experienced cloudy conditions beneath a waxing gibbous moon. The French capital, situated along the Seine in north-central France, has long served as a centre for art, culture and international diplomacy. Paris hosted the first council meeting of the League of Nations in 1920, establishing itself as a venue for global governance discussions that would shape the twentieth century.
This date in history marks significant moments of both tragedy and cultural achievement. In 1942, a pumping engine at a colliery in New Hartley, England, broke and fell down the shaft, trapping miners below in one of the deadliest mining disasters of the era, resulting in 204 deaths. Conversely, the theatrical world gained a landmark production when the musical Hello, Dolly! opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway in 1964, eventually winning ten Tony Awards, a record that remained unbroken for 37 years.
Those born on this date fall under the zodiac sign of Capricorn, characterised in astrology by traits associated with discipline and determination. The waxing gibbous moon phase reflects a time of increasing illumination and approaching fullness, traditionally linked to growth and intensification in various cultural traditions.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions, historical events, and notable births and deaths for any date and location, allowing users to explore how specific days unfolded across different regions throughout history.
Find out what's happening today in Paris.
What the Weather Had in Store for Paris on 16th January 1961
The path least traveled often leads home.
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 waxing gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Rat (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 1961 would be 65 years old today — just 23,824 days into life, which is roughly 571,784 hours, 34,307,062 minutes, or 2,058,423,742 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
- Gail Graham, Canadian golfer (1964)
- James May, English journalist and television presenter (1963)
- Joel Fitzgibbon, Australian electrician and politician, 51st Australian Minister of Defence (1962)
- Maxine Jones, American R&B singer–songwriter and actress (1962)
- Kenneth Sivertsen, Norwegian guitarist and composer (died 2006) (1961)
- Lisa Milroy, Canadian painter and educator (1959)
- Sade, Nigerian-English singer-songwriter and producer (1959)
- Anatoli Boukreev, Russian mountaineer and explorer (died 1997) (1958)
- Lena Ek, Swedish lawyer and politician, ninth Swedish Minister for the Environment (1958)
- Andris Šķēle, Latvian businessman and politician, fourth Prime Minister of Latvia (1958)
Lives Remembered on 16th January
- Frank Hurley, Australian photographer, director, producer, and cinematographer (born 1885) (1962)
- Ivan Meštrović, Croatian sculptor and architect, designed the Monument to the Unknown Hero (born 1883) (1962)
- Max Schöne, German swimmer (born 1880) (1961)
- Phan Khôi, Vietnamese journalist and author (born 1887) (1959)
- Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, English general and politician, 16th Governor General of Canada (born 1874) (1957)
- Arturo Toscanini, Italian cellist and conductor (born 1867) (1957)
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)