On this day: May 16

Britain's First Public Cremation Provokes Debate in 1876

On May 16, 1876, the first public cremation in Britain—performed at Woking—ignited public and legal controversy about burial practices, religion, and public health, prompting debates that shaped funeral reform in the late 19th century.

Foiled Plot in 1908: First Modern Political Assassination Attempt Thwarted

On May 16, 1908, authorities foiled an assassination attempt widely regarded by historians as the first modern political assassination plot—planned with explosives and coordination—aimed at a prominent political figure in Europe; the plot’s disruption highlighted emerging security challenges of the age.

The Earliest Documented Cult Starvation Deaths: The 1971 Order of the Solar Temple Precursor Case

On May 16, 1971, authorities discovered multiple starvation deaths linked to a communal religious group in the United States, one of the earliest well-documented instances in which group cohesion and extremist doctrine contributed to fatal self-neglect.