On This Day for 7/16 - Catcher in the Rye is published, Washington, D.C., is established as the capital of the U.S., and more

Don't miss an issue of On This Day! Simply add [customerservice@eb.com]( to your address book. On This Day July 16 Discover the Fastest Route to Britannica - [EB.com]( Biography of the Day [An advertisement for the film Flying Down to Rio (1933), starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.]( [Ginger Rogers]( American dancer and actress [Ginger Rogers]( born this day in 1911, achieved fame as the partner of [Fred Astaire]( in a series of popular musicals and later won an Oscar for her dramatic performance in Kitty Foyle (1940). Who else was born today? Find out with the newest version of [our best-selling software! >>]( On This Day [First atomic bomb test, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, July 16, 1945.]( 1945: First atomic bomb exploded near Alamogordo, New Mexico The United States tested the first [atomic bomb]( on this day in 1945 near [Alamogordo]( New Mexico, and the following month dropped atomic bombs on [Hiroshima]( and [Nagasaki]( in Japan, hastening the end of [World War II](. Explore more key moments in history for just $39.95 [Learn more >>]( [Sign up now]( for our monthly newsletter, showcasing articles hand-picked by our editors! More Events On This Day 2004: [Chicago]( officially opened its Millennium Park, which featured fountains, eye-catching sculptures, and a large outdoor concert facility designed by architect [Frank Gehry](. 2001: Rogge]( of Belgium was chosen to replace [Juan António Samaranch]( as the president of the [International Olympic Committee](. 1999: [John F. Kennedy, Jr., with his mother Jacqueline]( publisher and lawyer [John F. Kennedy, Jr.]( the only son of U.S. President [John F. Kennedy]( and [Jacqueline Kennedy]( died after the airplane he was piloting crashed off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts; also killed were his wife and her sister. 1967: [Will Ferrell]( actor and writer [Will Ferrell]( who was known for his impersonations and for his portrayals of dim-witted but endearing characters, was born. 1951: [J.D. Salinger]( [The Catcher in the Rye]( which centred on the sensitive, rebellious adolescent [Holden Caulfield]( was published and later became a classic. 1918: Former Russian tsar [Nicholas II]( and his family were executed by [Bolsheviks](. 1862: [Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, 1930.]( Bell Wells-Barnett]( an American journalist who led a crusade against [lynching]( was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi. 1054: [Humbert of Silva Candida]( cardinal and papal legate, excommunicated [Michael Cerularius]( patriarch of Constantinople, who retaliated by excommunicating the cardinal, which led to the [schism]( between the churches of Rome and Constantinople. A Great Gift Idea from The Britannica Store [1768 Encyclopaedia Britannica Replica Set]( The handsome three-volume reproduction is so beautifully executed that it's almost indistinguishable from the 1768 original, right down to the natural age spots and watermarks on the pages. A must-have for collectors of history or vintage books, the set lends an unmistakable air of prestige to any home or office. [Get yours today]( Our Best-Selling Software! the world's most trusted and authoritative information for [only $39.95](. Britannica on Facebook a fan]( on Facebook and get updated Britannica content in your news feed! Britannica on Twitter @Britannica]( and enjoy daily tweets relating to the news stories of the day! [Home]( [Advocacy for Animals]( [Newsletters]( [Feedback]( [Help]( Please note that if you do not open or click on any On This Day email during any consecutive 30-day period, we reserve the right to remove your address from the active mailing list. This policy does not apply to RSS feeds. Share: Was this message forwarded to you? [Click here]( and we'll start sending you the On This Day newsletters. This message has been sent to {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe [click here](. To unsubscribe by postal mail, send your request to: Encyclopaedia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle St. - Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60654 US ATTN: Customer Service - On This Day © 2017 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( — [Help](