On May 16, 1953, Pierce Brosnan was born, famous for playing the character James Bond. Also on May 16, in 1980, Marin Preda died, one of the most important Romanian novelists of the post-war period.
Pierce Brosnan/PHOTO: United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection
1812: The Peace of Bucharest was signed, ending the Russian-Turkish war
The Peace of Bucharest of 1812 was a peace treaty signed on 16 May 1812, between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, at the end of the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812.
By this treaty, the Principality of Moldavia was reduced to a geographical area that included most of Western Moldavia, while the eastern part, assigned to the Russian Empire, became a province, then called Bessarabia, of the Tsarist Empire.
1891: The politician Ion C. Brătianu died
Born on June 2, 1821, in Pitesti, Ion C. Brătianu was a prominent figure in the Romanian political life of the 19th century, an honorary member of the Romanian Academy. He contributed through his rich activity to the establishment of the modern Romanian state, writes Enciclopedia României.
Ion C. Brătianu/PHOTO: Wikipedia
He was at the center of efforts to unify the various liberal factions into a single political formation, the National Liberal Party, being elected its first president.
Brătianu was always in the foreground of the historical events that marked the destiny of the Romanian people: the Revolution of 1848, the Union of the Principalities, the conquest of State Independence.
Ion C. Brătianu had an impressive governmental activity, holding the longest mandate as prime minister of Romania until the communist period.
He died on May 16, 1891, at the age of 70. At his death there was a strong state with solid finances, an independent kingdom.
1929: The first edition of the Academy Awards takes place
The first Academy Awards ceremony took place on May 16, 1929, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.
Cover of the program for the first gala of the Oscar Awards/PHOTO: Wikipedia
Awards were given to the best films from August 1, 1927 to July 31, 1928. Tickets cost $5 (the equivalent of about $94 in 2025, adjusted for inflation), and 270 people attended the event. The ceremony lasted only 15 minutes.
It is the only edition of the Academy Awards that was neither broadcast on radio nor on television; the radio broadcast was introduced at the second Academy Awards.
1953: Irish actor Pierce Brosnan was born
Pierce Brosnan was born on May 16, 1956, in Drogheda, Ireland. He later moved to the United Kingdom at a young age (which explains his ability to convincingly portray characters from both cultural backgrounds), writes IMDb.
Pierce Brosnan/PHOTO: Shutterstock
His most famous role is that of the British secret agent James Bond.
After the death of his wife, Cassandra Harris, in 1991, Pierce Brosnan remained with their three children: Christopher and Charlotte, whom he had adopted from Cassandra's first marriage, and Sean, their biological son.
Later, the actor rebuilt his life with Keely Shaye Brosnan, with whom he has two more children.
Brosnan is most famous for his starring role in the TV series 'Remington Steele', as well as playing the famous James Bond character in the films 'GoldenEye', 'Tomorrow Never Dies', 'The World Is Not Enough' and 'Die Another Day'.
1974: Laura Pausini, Italian singer, was born
Born on May 16, 1974 in Faenza, Italy, Laura Pausini is an Italian singer. He debuted in 1993, winning the 43rd edition of the Sanremo Music Festival with the song “La solitudine”.
Laura Pausini/PHOTO: Profimedia
The man who sparked the fascination with the American Wild West. He was a living legend, able to kill a bear with just a knife
The song became an international hit, reaching number 1 in Italy and the top 10 in France and the Netherlands.
Her self-titled debut album was released in Italy on 18 May 1993 but later became an international hit, selling two million copies worldwide.
During her career, Laura Pausini won three Latin Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Album, for the albums “Listen” (2005), “Eu cânt” (2007) and “Primăvară timpurie” (2009).
On February 8, 2006, she became the first Italian artist to win a Grammy Award, winning the trophy for Best Latin Pop Album with the album “Listen”.
By November 2011, Laura Pausini had released 10 studio albums in Italian, 9 in Spanish and one greatest hits album.
1997: The actor Puiu Călinescu died
Alexandru Călinescu, his real name, was born on June 21, 1920 in Bucharest. His parents were the actor Jean Tomescu and Fotina Călinescu, a worker at a cigarette factory.
Puiu Călinescu/PHOTO: Archive
At the age of 5, after the death of his mother, who was only 23, and with a father who would not recognize him as his son, he was raised by his maternal grandmother, then by other uncles and aunts, according to Rador.
His fame was brought to him by the series “Brigada Diverse” (1970–1971), where he memorably played the character Trandafir, alongside actors such as Dem Rădulescu, Jean Constantin, Toma Caragiu, Sebastian Papaiani and Ștefan Bănică.
His filmography also includes “The Jderi Brothers”, “Serenade for the XII floor”, “Nea Mărin billionaire” and “Expresul de Buftea” (1979).
The actor died on May 16, 1997, in Bucharest.
1980: The writer Marin Preda died
Born on August 5, 1922, in Siliștea Gumești, Teleorman, Marin Preda was one of the most important Romanian novelists of the post-war period and a member of the Romanian Communist Party.
Marin Preda/PHOTO: Wikipedia
How the life of the shepherds in Fundătura Ponorului and Ponorici changed after the appearance of Via Transilvanica
Marin Preda made his debut in 1942 in the newspaper “Timpul”, later publishing several sketches and stories that strengthened his confidence in his literary talent.
Between 1949 and 1955 he wrote the first volume of the novel Moromeții, considered his masterpiece and later rewarded with the State Prize.
He became editor of the magazine “Viata românească”, then vice-president of the Union of Writers and director of the “Cartea Românească” publishing house. Throughout his career he published important novels such as The Great Lonely One, Life as Prey and The Most Beloved of Earthlings.
On a personal level, he was married three times, including the poet Aurora Cornu, and had two sons. In 1974 he became a corresponding member of the Romanian Academy.
At the age of 57, on the night of May 15 to 16, 1980, the same year in which he had known success with the famous novel “Cel mai iubat dintre pâmăteni”, Marin Preda met his end in room number 6 of the creative villa in Mogoşoaia, drowned in his sleep in his own vomit, after a night in which he had consumed alcohol.
Preda's relatives, his brother, Alexandru Preda (Saie) and his ex-wife Aurora Cornea, suspected that the writer had been executed.
2018: Director Lucian Pintilie died
Born on November 9, 1933, Lucian Pintilie attended the “IL Caragiale” Theater and Cinematography Institute in Bucharest.
Lucian Pintilie/PHOTO: Mediafax
After graduation, Pintilie staged a series of shows at the “Bulandra” Theater in the Capital, among them: “Children of the sun”, “Fools under the moonlight”, “Caesar and Cleopatra”, “D'ale carnavalului” and “Cherry orchard”.
In 1966, his first directed film appeared – “Sunday at 6”. In 1990, he was appointed director of the Cinematographic Creation Studio of the Ministry of Culture.
