Historical eventMay 161832

Juan Godoy

Prospector Juan Godoy discovered a silver outcrop in Chañarcillo, sparking the Chilean silver rush.

In context

When
Wednesday, May 16 1832194 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
19th century · 1830s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: From 1832.

What happened

Prospector Juan Godoy discovered a silver outcrop in Chañarcillo, sparking the Chilean silver rush.

May 16 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1832Juan Godoy
  2. 1977Chuck E. Cheese
  3. 1988Surgeon General of the United States
  4. 1991Elizabeth II
  5. 1997Mobutu Sese Seko
  6. 2003Morocco
  7. 2005Kuwait
  8. 2011STS-134
  9. 2014Gikomba bombings
  10. 20252025 Somerset–London tornado
  11. 20252025 St. Louis tornado

Also in 1832

  • August 27Black Hawk (Sauk leader)Black Hawk (pictured), the leader of the Sauk tribe of Native Americans, surrendered to U.S. authorities to end the Black Hawk War.
  • June 29Black Hawk WarBlack Hawk War: Three men working in a cornfield were attacked by Sauk Native Americans, resulting in two deaths.
  • June 5June RebellionThe June Rebellion, an anti-monarchist uprising, broke out in Paris.
  • June 7Reform Act 1832The Reform Act, which is widely credited with launching modern democracy in the United Kingdom, received royal assent.

Everything we record for 1832 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Juan Godoy”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/juan-godoy-1832-may-16, accessed October 24, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Juan Godoy happen?

May 16 1832 — 194 years ago, on a Wednesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.