Mathematician William Whiston's predicted comet fails to strike the Earth.

William Whiston was an English theologian, historian, natural philosopher, and mathematician, a leading figure in the popularisation of the ideas of Isaac Newton. He is now probably best known for helping to instigate the Longitude Act in 1714 and his important translations of the Antiquities of the Jews and other works by Josephus. He was a prominent exponent of Arianism and wrote A New Theory of the Earth.

October 16 is the 289th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 76 days remain until the end of the year.