At A Glance

16 August 1971 at a glance

Day of the week
16 August 1971 was a Monday.
UK Number One
The UK Number One single was “I'm Still Waiting” by Diana Ross.
Top Film of 1971
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1971 was The French Connection.
Star sign
The star sign for 16 August is Leo.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 16 August 1971 fell in the Year of the Pig.
Birthstone
The birthstone for August is Peridot.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 16 August 1971 was Waning Crescent.

On this day: 16 August

  • 1960 Cyprus gains its independence from the United Kingdom.
  • 1964 Vietnam War: A coup d'état replaces Dương Văn Minh with General Nguyễn Khánh as President of South Vietnam. A new constitution is established with aid from the U.S. Embassy.
  • 1966 Vietnam War: The House Un-American Activities Committee begins investigations of Americans who have aided the Viet Cong. The committee intends to introduce legislation making these activities illegal. Anti-war demonstrators disrupt the meeting and 50 people are arrested.
  • 1972 In an unsuccessful coup d'état attempt, the Royal Moroccan Air Force fires upon Hassan II of Morocco's plane while he is traveling back to Rabat.
  • 1975 Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam symbolically hands over land to the Gurindji people after the eight-year Wave Hill walk-off, a landmark event in the history of Indigenous land rights in Australia, commemorated in a 1991 song by Paul Kelly and an annual celebration.

Famous people born on 16 August

  • Madonna, American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and director (born 1958)
  • Sophie Cunningham, American basketball player (born 1996)
  • Jannik Sinner, Italian tennis player (born 2001)
  • James Cameron, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1954)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1971 in the United Kingdom

A selection from Wikipedia's '1971 in the United Kingdom'. Not a complete list.

  • 3 February – Tyneside-set British crime film Get Carter starring Michael Caine premièred (in Los Angeles).
  • 14 June – The first Hard Rock Cafe opened near Hyde Park Corner in London.
  • 25–27 June – The first Reading Festival "of jazz and progressive music" took place.

Life in 1971

Prime Minister

Edward Heath

Monarch

Elizabeth II

Pint of Beer

17p

Loaf of Bread

11p

Average House

£5,632

Weekly Wage

£30.90

Or

Browse by Year

Famous Faces Born in the 1970s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →