On This Day — February 17

🕰️ Notable Events on February 17

• 2016 — Military vehicles explode outside a Turkish Armed Forces barracks in Ankara, Turkey, killing at least 29 people and injuring 61 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 2015 — Eighteen people are killed and 78 injured in a stampede at a Mardi Gras parade in Haiti. Wikipedia ↗
• 2011 — Libyan protests begin. In Bahrain, security forces launched a deadly pre-dawn raid on protesters in Pearl Roundabout in Manama, the day is locally known as Bloody Thursday. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Kosovo declares independence as the Republic of Kosovo. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — A massive mudslide occurs in Southern Leyte, Philippines; the official death toll is set at 1,126. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — In Philadelphia, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — NASA's Discovery Program begins as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifts off on the first mission ever to orbit and land on an asteroid, 433 Eros. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — The 8.2 Mw Biak earthquake shakes the Papua province of eastern Indonesia with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). A large tsunami followed, leaving one-hundred sixty-six people dead or missing and 423 injured. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — The Cenepa War between Peru and Ecuador ends on a ceasefire brokered by the UN. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Nagorno-Karabakh War: Armenian troops massacre more than 20 Azerbaijani civilians during the Capture of Garadaghly. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — First winter ascent of Mount Everest by Krzysztof Wielicki and Leszek Cichy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — The Sino-Vietnamese War begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — The Troubles: The Provisional IRA detonates an incendiary bomb at the La Mon restaurant, near Belfast, killing 12 and seriously injuring 30 others, all Protestants. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Robert K. Preston, a disgruntled U.S. Army private, buzzes the White House in a stolen helicopter. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Cumulative sales of the Volkswagen Beetle exceed those of the Ford Model T. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — In Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opens. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Project Ranger: The Ranger 8 probe launches on its mission to photograph the Mare Tranquillitatis region of the Moon in preparation for the manned Apollo missions. Mare Tranquillitatis or the "Sea of Tranquility" would become the site chosen for the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — In Wesberry v. Sanders the Supreme Court of the United States rules that congressional districts have to be approximately equal in population. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Gabonese president Léon M'ba is toppled by a coup and his rival, Jean-Hilaire Aubame, is installed in his place. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Project Vanguard: Vanguard 2: The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Chaim Weizmann begins his term as the first President of Israel. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok begins: The battle ends in an American victory on February 22. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Operation Hailstone begins: U.S. naval air, surface, and submarine attack against Truk Lagoon, Japan's main base in the central Pacific, in support of the Eniwetok invasion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Newsweek magazine is first published. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — The Ukrainian People's Republic asks Entente and the US for help fighting the Bolsheviks. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — The Armory Show opens in New York City, displaying works of artists who are to become some of the most influential painters of the early 20th century. Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Madama Butterfly receives its première at La Scala in Milan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1871 — The victorious Prussian Army parades through Paris, France, after the end of the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1867 — The first ship passes through the Suez Canal. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — American Civil War: Columbia, South Carolina, is burned as Confederate forces flee from advancing Union forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — American Civil War: The H. L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic. Wikipedia ↗
• 1863 — A group of citizens of Geneva founded an International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, which later became known as the International Committee of the Red Cross. Wikipedia ↗
• 1859 — Cochinchina Campaign: The French Navy captured the Citadel of Saigon, a fortress that was manned by 1,000 Nguyễn dynasty soldiers, en route to conquering Saigon and other regions of southern Viet Nam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1854 — The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the Orange Free State. Wikipedia ↗
• 1838 — Weenen massacre: Hundreds of Voortrekkers along the Blaukraans River, Natal are killed by Zulus. Wikipedia ↗
• 1819 — The United States House of Representatives passes the Missouri Compromise for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1814 — War of the Sixth Coalition: The Battle of Mormant. Wikipedia ↗
• 1801 — An electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr is resolved when Jefferson is elected President of the United States and Burr, Vice President by the United States House of Representatives. Wikipedia ↗
• 1753 — In Sweden February 17 is followed by March 1 as the country moves from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Wikipedia ↗
• 1621 — Myles Standish is appointed as first military commander of the English Plymouth Colony in North America. Wikipedia ↗
• 1600 — The philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive, for heresy, at Campo de' Fiori in Rome. Wikipedia ↗
• 1500 — Duke Friedrich and Duke Johann attempt to subdue the peasantry of Dithmarschen, Denmark, in the Battle of Hemmingstedt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1411 — Following the successful campaigns during the Ottoman Interregnum, Musa Çelebi, one of the sons of Bayezid I, becomes Sultan with the support of Mircea I of Wallachia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1370 — Northern Crusades: Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Teutonic Knights meet in the Battle of Rudau. Wikipedia ↗
• 364 — Roman Emperor Jovian dies after a reign of eight months. He is found dead in his tent at Tyana (Asia Minor) en route back to Constantinople in suspicious circumstances. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on February 17

• 1994 — Angie Miller, American singer-songwriter and pianist Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Nicola Leali, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Marc Márquez, Spanish motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Ed Sheeran, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Bonnie Wright, English actress, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Marianne St-Gelais, Canadian speed skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Rebecca Adlington, English swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Jake Marketo, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Chord Overstreet, American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Tom Symonds, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Vasyl Lomachenko, Ukrainian boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Anders Jacobsen, Norwegian ski jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — AB de Villiers, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Jimmy Jacobs, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Katie Hill, Australian 3.0 point wheelchair basketball player. Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Drew Miller, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Marcin Gortat, Polish basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Kevin Rudolf, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Adriano, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Brian Bruney, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Daniel Merriweather, Australian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Paris Hilton, American model, media personality, actress, singer, DJ, author and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Pontus Segerström, Swedish footballer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Andrew Stephenson, English politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Al Harrington, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Klemi Saban, Israeli footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Tonie Carroll, New Zealand-Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Václav Prospal, Czech ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Kaoru, Japanese guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Jerry O'Connell, American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Raphaël Ibañez, French rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Billie Joe Armstrong, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Philippe Candeloro, French figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Taylor Hawkins, American singer-songwriter and drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Valeria Mazza, Argentinian model and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Lars Göran Petrov, Swedish singer and drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Denise Richards, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Dominic Purcell, English-born Irish-Australian actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — David Douillet, French martial artist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Vasily Kudinov, Russian handball player (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Wu'erkaixi, Chinese journalist and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Bryan Cox, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Michael Lepond, American bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Quorthon, Swedish guitarist and songwriter (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Luc Robitaille, Canadian ice hockey player, manager, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Michael Bay, American director and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Danny Lee, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Larry the Cable Guy, American comedian and voice actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Alison Hargreaves, English mountaineer (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Jen-Hsun Huang, Taiwanese-American businessman, co-founded Nvidia Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Michael Jordan, American basketball player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Lou Diamond Phillips, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Angela Eagle, English politician, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Maria Eagle, English politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Andrey Korotayev, Russian anthropologist, historian, and sociologist Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Lindy Ruff, Canadian hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Aryeh Deri, Moroccan-Israeli rabbi and politician, Israeli Minister of Internal Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Rowdy Gaines, American swimmer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Alan Wiggins, American baseball player (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Loreena McKennitt, Canadian singer-songwriter, accordion player, and pianist Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Richard Karn, American actor and game show host Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Mo Yan, Chinese author and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Lou Ann Barton, American blues singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Miki Berkovich, Israeli basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Rene Russo, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Karin Büttner-Janz, German gymnast and physician Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Vladimír Padrůněk, Czech bass player (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Rashid Minhas, Pakistani soldier and pilot (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Rickey Medlocke, American guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Fred Frith, English guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Dennis Green, American football player and coach (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — José José, Mexican singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Rick Majerus, American basketball player and coach (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Shahrnush Parsipur, Iranian-American author and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Zina Bethune, American actress, dancer, and choreographer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Brenda Fricker, Irish actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Karl Jenkins, Welsh saxophonist, keyboard player, and composer (Soft Machine) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Huey P. Newton, American activist, co-founded the Black Panther Party (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Julia McKenzie, English actress, singer, and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Vicente Fernández, Mexican singer-songwriter, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Gene Pitney, American singer-songwriter (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Mary Ann Mobley, American model and actress, Miss America 1959 (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Jim Brown, American football player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Barry Jarman, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Christina Pickles, English-American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Alan Bates, English actor (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage), Australian comedian, actor, and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Larry Jennings, American magician and author (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Bobby Lewis, American R&B singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Craig L. Thomas, American captain and politician (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Jiřina Jirásková, Czech actress and singer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Buddy Ryan, American football coach (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Roger Craig, American baseball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Benjamin Fain, Ukrainian-Israeli physicist and academic (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Ruth Rendell, English author (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Alejandro Jodorowsky, Chilean-French director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Chaim Potok, American rabbi and author (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, English lieutenant and politician, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Patricia Routledge, English actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Marta Romero, Puerto Rican actress and singer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Ron Goodwin, English composer and conductor (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Hal Holbrook, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Margaret Truman, American singer and author (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — John M. Allegro, English archaeologist and scholar (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Buddy DeFranco, American clarinet player and bandleader (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Tommy Edwards, American R&B singer-songwriter (d. 1969) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Duane Gish, American biochemist and academic (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Ivo Caprino, Norwegian director and screenwriter (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Curt Swan, American soldier and illustrator (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — J. M. S. Careless, Canadian historian and academic (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Kathleen Freeman, American actress and singer (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Joe Hunt, American tennis player (d. 1945) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — William Bronk, American poet and academic (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Jacqueline Ferrand, French mathematician (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Alexander Obolensky, Russian rugby player and pilot (d. 1940) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Don Tallon, Australian cricketer (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Raf Vallone, Italian footballer and actor (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Arthur Kennedy, American actor (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Wayne Morris, American actor, singer, and producer (d. 1959) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Andre Norton, American author (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Oskar Seidlin, German-American author, poet, and scholar (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Marc Lawrence, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Red Barber, American sportscaster (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Bo Yibo, Chinese general and politician, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Mary Brian, American actress (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Rózsa Péter, Hungarian mathematician (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Hans Morgenthau, German-American political scientist, philosopher, and academic (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Sadegh Hedayat, Iranian-French author and translator (d. 1951) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Ruth Clifford, American actress (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Jibanananda Das, Bangladeshi-Indian poet and author (d. 1954) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Wally Pipp, American baseball player and journalist (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — Abraham Fraenkel, German-Israeli mathematician and academic (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Ronald Fisher, English-Australian statistician, biologist, and geneticist (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — Otto Stern, German-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1969) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — Joseph Bech, Luxembourgian lawyer and politician, 15th Prime Minister of Luxembourg (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — Leevi Madetoja, Finnish composer and critic (d. 1947) Wikipedia ↗
• 1881 — Mary Carson Breckinridge, American nurse-midwife, founded Frontier Nursing Service (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — Isabelle Eberhardt, Swiss explorer and author (d. 1904) Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — André Maginot, French sergeant and politician (d. 1932) Wikipedia ↗
• 1874 — Thomas J. Watson, American businessman (d. 1956) Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — Jozef Murgaš, Slovak priest, botanist, and painter (d. 1929) Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — Banjo Paterson, Australian journalist, author, and poet (d. 1941) Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — Mori Ōgai, Japanese general, author, and poet (d. 1922) Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (d. 1922) Wikipedia ↗
• 1854 — Friedrich Alfred Krupp, German businessman (d. 1902) Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — Louisa Lawson, Australian poet and publisher (d. 1920) Wikipedia ↗
• 1844 — Aaron Montgomery Ward, American businessman, founded Montgomery Ward (d. 1913) Wikipedia ↗
• 1836 — Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Spanish author, poet, and playwright (d. 1870) Wikipedia ↗
• 1832 — Richard Henry Park, American sculptor (d. 1902) Wikipedia ↗
• 1821 — Lola Montez, Irish-American actress and dancer (d. 1861) Wikipedia ↗
• 1820 — Henri Vieuxtemps, Belgian violinist and composer (d. 1881) Wikipedia ↗
• 1817 — Édouard Thilges, Luxembourgian jurist and politician, 7th Prime Minister of Luxembourg (d. 1904) Wikipedia ↗
• 1796 — Philipp Franz von Siebold, German physician and botanist (d. 1866) Wikipedia ↗
• 1781 — René Laennec, French physician, invented the stethoscope (d. 1826) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on February 17 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on February 17

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Carnival (AR,BR,PT,VE) · Chinese New Year (PH,SG) · Lunar New Year (HK,KR) · Martes de Carnaval (AR,VE) · Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) (CN) · Tahun Baharu Cina (MY) · Tahun Baru Imlek (perkiraan) (ID) · Tết Nguyên Đán (VN) · 春節 (TW) · 春节 (CN)

✡️ Religious Observances

• Jewish: Rosh Chodesh Adar
• Chinese: Chinese New Year