June 16: Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.

On this day, 16 Jun...

1657 - The first pendulum clock was patented by its inventor, Christiaan Huygens. Although others may have worked in this field before him, Huygens made major advances in building a practical clock. He needed time accuracy for his astronomical measurements.

1884 - The first gravity-powered American roller coaster that was commercially successful was put in operation at Coney Island, New York, the invention of La Marcus Thompson.

1893 - Cracker Jack was invented by R.W. Rueckheim, a unique popcorn, peanuts, and molasses confection which he introduced at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago's First World Fair.  

1903 - Pepsi-Cola Co. forms. Pharmacies at the time were favourite gathering places. To increase business at his store's soda fountain, pharmacist Caleb D. Bradham created a soft drink. In the summer of 1898, he mixed carbonated water, sugar, vanilla, oils, pepsin, and kola nut extract. Customers at in his pharmacy liked the beverage and called it Brad's Drink. As its popularity grew, Bradham changed the name to Pepsi-Cola. The name emphasised the pepsin and kola nut extract it contained for their supposed health benefits. Pepsin, an enzyme, was thought to aid in digestion, and caffeine, an alkaloid found in kola nuts, was believed to bestow beneficial energy.

1903 - Ford Motors under Henry Ford incorporates.

1909 - 1st US airplane sold commercially, by Glenn Curtiss for $5,000.

1946 - Britain invites Indian leaders to set up an interim govt at London.

1922 - Henry A. Berliner demonstrated the first helicopter prototype for representatives of the U.S. Bureau of Aeronautics.

1963 - Valentina Tereshkova (USSR) became 1st woman in space, aboard Vostok 6.

1990 - Bombay gets 42 cm rainfall, the century's highest. (The previous high of 41 cm was recorded on June 18, 1986).

1993 - Harshad Mehta accuses PM Narsimha Rao of taking Rs. 1 crore payoff from him in November 1991; Rao terms it malicious and unfounded.

2015 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is banning artificial trans fats from all foods and beverages; the ban will go into effect in 2018.

Born

1920 - Hemant Chaudhary Mukhopadhyay (aka Hemant Kumar), famous singer and music director.

1950 - Mithun Chakravorty, actor.

RIP

1605 - Akbar (Abul-Fath Djalal-ud-Din), Mughal emperor of India (1556-1605), passed away of diarrhoea or dysentery at the age of 63 years. At Akbar's graveside, stood conspicuous in his simplicity, Jesuit priest Father Xavier who always remained his devoted friend. (Date could be 16 or 17).

1925 - Chittaranjan Das, Indian patriot and freedom fighter.

1997 - P. Sukumaran, Malayalam film actor.

Titbits

1882 - 17" hailstones weighing 1.75 lbs fall in Dubuque Iowa, USA.​

1943 - Actor/comedian Charlie Chaplin (54) marries actress Oona O'Neill (18).

1989 - 4 hole-in-ones made,  all on 6th hole, in the US Open.  

You may have known...

Cows often form close friendships with one another.