On this day: Several important historical events took place on August 16, making it a significant date in both Indian and world history for various political, economic and other reasons. On this day in 2018, India mourned the loss of its former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In addition, this day commemorates the death of Elvis Presley, who died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee in 1977 at the age of 42.

Here are some of the events that took place on August 16

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s death in 2018

Former Prime Minister and leading member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on 16 August 2018. Born in Gwalior in 1924, Vajpayee was a key figure in the BJP for many years. He was the first Prime Minister from outside the Congress party to serve a full term. He served as Prime Minister twice, first from 16 May to 1 June 1996 and then from 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004. In addition, he served as the Indian External Affairs Minister in Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s cabinet from 1977 to 1979. Vajpayee died on 16 August 2018 at the AIIMS Hospital in Delhi.

Elvis Presley died in 1977

Elvis Presley, the legendary American singer and actor, died on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. He was found unconscious at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead. The official cause of death was later determined to be a heart attack, likely related to his long-term health problems and prescription drug use.

In 1896 gold was discovered in the Canadian Yukon

In 1896, the discovery of gold in Canada’s Yukon Territory sparked “Klondike fever,” attracting tens of thousands of people to the region in search of wealth.

James Earl Ray was convicted in 1978

In 1978, James Earl Ray, who was convicted of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., testified at a hearing on Capitol Hill and claimed he was not responsible for the crime. Ray explained that he had been framed by a mysterious figure known as “Raoul.”

In 2014, a state of emergency was declared in Missouri

The governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, had declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson. Since 18-year-old black man Michael Brown was shot dead by a white police officer, there have been repeated clashes between police and demonstrators there this week.