1. In 1661, Mary Walcott, one of the accusers during the Salem witch trials, was born in Reading, Massachusetts. The trials, which took place in 1692, resulted in the execution of 20 people accused of witchcraft.

2. On July 16, 1779, a group of Franco-American troops launched a failed attempt to retake the British garrison at Newport, Rhode Island, during the American Revolutionary War. The battle, known as the Battle of Rhode Island, resulted in heavy casualties for both sides.

3. In 1861, the first Union troops arrived in Boston during the American Civil War. The city played a key role in the war effort, serving as a major center for recruitment, training, and the production of war materials.

4. On July 16, 1914, Boston Red Sox pitcher Babe Ruth made his major league debut, pitching seven innings in a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Naps. Ruth went on to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time, known for his powerful hitting and charismatic personality.

5. In 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette were killed in a plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Kennedy, the son of President John F. Kennedy, had a strong connection to Massachusetts, having grown up in the state and served as the assistant district attorney in New York's southern district, which includes Martha's Vineyard.