On This Day — December 17

🕰️ Notable Events on December 17

• 2014 — The United States and Cuba re-establish diplomatic relations after severing them in 1960. Wikipedia ↗
• 2010 — Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring. Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — MV Danny F II sinks off the coast of Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 44 people and over 28,000 animals. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Anti-World Trade Organization protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicates the throne as King of Bhutan. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — The Soham murder trial ends at the Old Bailey in London, with Ian Huntley found guilty of two counts of murder. His girlfriend, Maxine Carr, is found guilty of perverting the course of justice. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — SpaceShipOne, piloted by Brian Binnie, makes its first powered and first supersonic flight. Wikipedia ↗
• 2002 — Second Congo War: The Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord which makes provision for transitional governance and legislative and presidential elections within two years. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Romanian Revolution: Protests continue in Timișoara, Romania, with rioters breaking into the Romanian Communist Party's District Committee building and attempting to set it on fire. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Fernando Collor de Mello defeats Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the second round of the Brazilian presidential election, becoming the first democratically elected President in almost 30 years. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — The Simpsons first premiered on television with the episode, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire. Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Provisional IRA members detonate a car bomb at Harrods Department Store in London. Three police officers and three civilians are killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — American Brigadier General James L. Dozier is abducted by the Red Brigades in Verona, Italy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Thirty passengers are killed in an attack by Palestinian terrorists on Rome's Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — 1970 Polish protests: In Gdynia, soldiers fire at workers emerging from trains, killing dozens. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Project Blue Book: The United States Air Force closes its study of UFOs. Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Harold Holt, Prime Minister of Australia, disappears while swimming near Portsea, Victoria, and is presumed drowned. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Niterói circus fire: Fire breaks out during a performance by the Gran Circus Norte-Americano in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, killing more than 500. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Troops loyal to Emperor Haile Selassie in Ethiopia crush the coup that began December 13, returning power to their leader upon his return from Brazil. Haile Selassie absolves his son of any guilt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Munich C-131 crash: Twenty passengers and crew on board as well as 32 people on the ground are killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — The United States successfully launches the first Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — The American Civil Rights Congress delivers "We Charge Genocide" to the United Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — The F-86 Sabre's first mission over Korea. Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — The Finnish Security Intelligence Service is established to remove communist leadership from its predecessor, the State Police. Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — First flight of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Battle of the Bulge: Malmedy massacre: American 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion POWs are shot by Waffen-SS Kampfgruppe Joachim Peiper. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — All Chinese are again permitted to become citizens of the United States upon the repeal of the Act of 1882 and the introduction of the Magnuson Act. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: Japanese forces land in Northern Borneo. Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — World War II: Battle of the River Plate: The Admiral Graf Spee is scuttled by Captain Hans Langsdorff outside Montevideo. Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Otto Hahn discovers the nuclear fission of the heavy element uranium, the scientific and technological basis of nuclear energy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — First flight of the Douglas DC-3. Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Indian revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru assassinate British police officer James Saunders in Lahore, Punjab, to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai at the hands of the police. The three were executed in 1931. Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Indian revolutionary Rajendra Lahiri is hanged in Gonda jail, Uttar Pradesh, India, two days before the scheduled date. Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Antanas Smetona assumes power in Lithuania as the 1926 coup d'état is successful. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Uruguay becomes a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Darwin Rebellion: Up to 1,000 demonstrators march on Government House in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Ugyen Wangchuck is crowned first King of Bhutan Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — The Wright brothers make the first controlled powered, heavier-than-air flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire. Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — First issue of Vogue is published Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert. Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Wikipedia ↗
• 1837 — A fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg kills 30 guards. Wikipedia ↗
• 1835 — The second Great Fire of New York destroys 50 acres (200,000 square meters) of New York City's Financial District. Wikipedia ↗
• 1819 — Simón Bolívar declares the independence of Gran Colombia in Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar in Venezuela). Wikipedia ↗
• 1812 — War of 1812: U.S. forces attack a Lenape village in the Battle of the Mississinewa. Wikipedia ↗
• 1807 — Napoleonic Wars: France issues the Milan Decree, which confirms the Continental System. Wikipedia ↗
• 1790 — Discovery of the Aztec calendar stone. Wikipedia ↗
• 1777 — American Revolution: France formally recognizes the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1718 — War of the Quadruple Alliance: Great Britain declares war on Spain. Wikipedia ↗
• 1586 — Go-Yōzei becomes Emperor of Japan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1583 — Cologne War: Forces under Ernest of Bavaria defeat troops under Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg at the Siege of Godesberg. Wikipedia ↗
• 1538 — Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1398 — Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud's armies in Delhi are defeated by Timur. Wikipedia ↗
• 942 — Assassination of William I of Normandy. Wikipedia ↗
• 920 — Romanos I Lekapenos is crowned co-emperor of the underage Constantine VII. Wikipedia ↗
• 546 — Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under king Totila plunder the city, by bribing the Byzantine garrison. Wikipedia ↗
• The first Saturnalia festival was celebrated in ancient Rome. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 17

• 1998 — Martin Ødegaard, Norwegian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — Naiktha Bains, Australian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — Shoma Uno, Japanese figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Russian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Lloyd Perrett, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Nat Wolff, American singer-songwriter, keyboard player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Patricia Kú Flores, Peruvian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Joshua Ingram, Canadian drummer and percussionist Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Quinton de Kock, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — James Hurst, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Jordan Rankin, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Atsedu Tsegay, Ethiopian runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Liisa Ehrberg, Estonian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Grethe Grünberg, Estonian ice dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Kris Joseph, Canadian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — David Rudisha, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Craig Sutherland, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Bo Guagua, Chinese businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Chelsea Manning, American soldier and intelligence analyst Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Emma Bell, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Łukasz Broź, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Craig Reid, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Greg James, English radio presenter and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Luis Maria Alfageme, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Julian Bennett, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Andrew Davies, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Mikky Ekko, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Shannon Woodward, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Erik Christensen, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Haron Keitany, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Josh Barfield, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Lorenzo Cittadini, Italian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Craig Kielburger, Canadian activist and author, co-founded Free the Children and Me to We Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Stéphane Lasme, Gabonese basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Ryan Moats, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Onur Özsu, Turkish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Jerry Hsu, American skateboarder and photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Tim Wiese, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Ryan Hunter-Reay, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Alexandra Papageorgiou, Greek hammer thrower Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Eli Pariser, American activist and author, co-founded Avaaz.org Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Matt Murley, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Paul Smith, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Alex Cintrón, Puerto Rican-American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Neil Sanderson, Canadian drummer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Chase Utley, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Riteish Deshmukh, Indian film actor, producer and architect Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Arnaud Clément, French tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Samuel Påhlsson, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Katheryn Winnick, Canadian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Éric Bédard, Canadian speed skater and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Nir Davidovich, Israeli footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Patrick Müller, Swiss footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Andrew Simpson, English sailor (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Takeo Spikes, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Nick Dinsmore, American wrestler and trainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sri Lankan sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Milla Jovovich, Ukrainian-American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Charl Langeveldt, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Sarah Paulson, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Giovanni Ribisi, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Konstadinos Gatsioudis, Greek javelin thrower Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Rian Johnson, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Paula Radcliffe, English runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Hasan Vural, German-Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Iván Pedroso, Cuban long jumper and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Alan Khan, South African radio and TV presenter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Antoine Rigaudeau, French basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Laurie Holden, American actress and model Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Inna Lasovskaya, Russian triple jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Chuck Liddell, American mixed martial artist and kick-boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Mick Quinn, English singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Claudio Suárez, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Paul Tracy, Canadian race car driver and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Vincent Damphousse, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Karsten Neitzel, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Tracy Byrd, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Kristiina Ojuland, Estonian politician, 23rd Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Craig Berube, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Frank Musil, Czech ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Joe Wolf, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Paul Dobson, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Galina Malchugina, Russian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Rocco Mediate, American golfer and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Mansoor al-Jamri, Bahraini journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Bob Stinson, American songwriter and guitarist (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Mike Mills, American bass player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Wendy Hoyte, English sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Bob Ojeda, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Peter Farrelly, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Dominic Lawson, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Totka Petrova, Bulgarian runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Brad Davis, American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Sergėjus Jovaiša, Lithuanian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Bill Pullman, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Pat Hill, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Ken Hitchcock, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Tatyana Kazankina, Russian runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Laurence F. Johnson, American educator and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Maurice Peoples, American sprinter and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Sotiris Kaiafas, Cypriot footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Paul Rodgers, English singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Valery Belousov, Russian ice hockey player and coach (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Jim Bonfanti, American rock drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Turkish economist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Wes Studi, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Simon Bates, English radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Eugene Levy, Canadian actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Ernie Hudson, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Chris Matthews, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Jüri Talvet, Estonian poet and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Jacqueline Wilson, English author and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Jack L. Chalker, American author and educator (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Carlo M. Croce, Italian-American oncologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Bernard Hill, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Ron Geesin, Scottish pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian general and politician, 7th Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Paul Butterfield, American singer and harmonica player (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Dave Dee, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Stan Mudenge, Zimbabwean historian and politician, Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Kåre Valebrokk, Norwegian journalist (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — María Elena Velasco, Mexican actress, singer, director, and screenwriter (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — James Booker, American pianist (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Eddie Kendricks, American R&B singer-songwriter (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Peter Snell, New Zealand runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Brian Hayes, Australian-English radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Art Neville, American singer and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Kerry Packer, Australian businessman, founded World Series Cricket (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — John Kennedy Toole, American novelist (d. 1969) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Calvin Waller, American general (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Pope Francis Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Tommy Steele, English singer, guitarist, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Brian Langford, English cricketer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Cal Ripken, Sr., American baseball player, coach, and manager (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Irving Petlin, American painter and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Ray Wilson, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — John Bond, English footballer and manager (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Gerald Finnerman, American director and cinematographer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Dave Madden, Canadian-American actor (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — James McGaugh, American neurobiologist and psychologist Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Bob Guccione, American photographer and publisher, founded Penthouse (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 17 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on December 17

✡️ Religious Observances

• Islamic: Urs of Mawlāna Shaykh Nāzim al-Haqqāni (ق)