Noah Webster, America’s first lexicographer, was born on October 16, 1758. We remember Webster as the author of the first American dictionary, but he was also the first authority to advocate American English. His American Spelling Book, published in 1783 (later known as Webster’s Elementary Spelling Book), was the first to Americanize the spelling of English words such as colour and labour by dropping the u. He also espoused American pronunciation and usage. In a very real sense, Webster gave us the language that Americans think of as English. An estimated 60 million copies of Webster’s speller were sold during its first hundred years in print. In 1828, Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language was published, with 12,000 more words and about 40,000 more definitions than any previous English dictionary.
Daily Calendar for Thursday, October 16, 2025
Born
- Noah Webster (writer) –
- Francis Lubbock (Texas governor) –
- Oscar Wilde (author) –
- Wallace Rupert Turnbull (Canadian aeronautical engineer) –
- Eugene O'Neill (playwright) –
- Angela Lansbury (actress) –
- Suzanne Somers (actress) –
- Tim Robbins (actor & director) –
- Kellie Martin (actress) –
- John Mayer (musician) –
- Naomi Osaka (tennis player) –
Died
- Marie Antoinette (Queen of France) –
- Gene Krupa (musician) –
- Deborah Kerr (actress) –
- Barbara Billingsley (actress) –
- Dan Wheldon (race car driver) –
- Ed Lauter (actor) –
Events
- Cape Breton Island was re-annexed to Nova Scotia –
- The Tremont House in Boston, considered by many to be the first modern first-class hotel in the US, opens –
- The first successful demonstration of ether took place at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts –
- John Brown, U.S. abolitionist, led an unsuccessful raid on government arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, in what is now West Virginia –
- Cardiff giant discovered in Cardiff, New York (near Syracuse) –
- First Quebec vs. Ontario football game –
- The copyright for the melody “Happy Birthday to You” was registered –
- Margaret Sanger and others open the first birth control clinic, in Brooklyn, NY –
- Sun-Times published first Ann Landers column by Eppie Lederer –
- Two American black athletes at Olympic Games, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, demonstrate for black power while receiving their medals. They are suspended by the Olympic Committee. –
- Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize –
- The Roman Catholic College of Cardinals elected first non-Italian pope in 455 years, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Poland, who took the name John Paul II –
- 7.1 Hector Mine earthquake, Mojave Desert, California –
- A magnitude-4.0 earthquake struck about 3 miles west of Hollis Center, Maine and was felt throughout New England –
Weather
- 88 degrees F in New York City –
