Something else to consider.
When you see the row of pins start at #15 & #16, then 1-14, it might be a non-backlit LCD display.
I have several different 16x2 character displays, and of the 3 that are not backlit, 2 have the goofy pin orientation.
With those pin 15 & 16 are not connected.
Pin 1 & 5 - ground
pin 3 - 10k pot OR resistor to ground (8k-9k)
pin 2 - 5v
pins 4,6,11-14 connected to arduino digital pins
Adafruit has a wonderful tutorial which I still use as a reference. Never hurts to double check connections before heating the iron.