On This Day — June 17

Famous events, births, and deaths from June 17 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

Pick a month

Pick a day in June

50 events · 213 births · 93 deaths recorded for June 17.

🕰️ Notable Events on June 17

2017 — A series of wildfires in central Portugal kill at least 64 people and injure 204 others. Wikipedia ↗
2015 — Nine people are killed in a mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Following a televised low-speed highway chase, O. J. Simpson is arrested for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. Wikipedia ↗
1992 — A "joint understanding" agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II). Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Apartheid: The South African Parliament repeals the Population Registration Act which required racial classification of all South Africans at birth. Wikipedia ↗
1987 — With the death of the last individual of the species, the dusky seaside sparrow becomes extinct. Wikipedia ↗
1985 — STS-51-G Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Arab and first Muslim in space, as a payload specialist. Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Watergate scandal: Five White House operatives are arrested for burgling the offices of the Democratic National Committee, in an attempt by some members of the Republican party to illegally wiretap the opposition. Wikipedia ↗
1967 — The People's Republic of China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — The United States Supreme Court rules 8-1 in Abington School District v. Schempp against requiring the reciting of Bible verses and the Lord's Prayer in public schools. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — A day after South Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm announced the Joint Communiqué to end the Buddhist crisis, a riot involving around 2,000 people breaks out. One person is killed. Wikipedia ↗
1960 — The Nez Perce tribe is awarded $4 million for 7 million acres (28,000 km2) of land undervalued at four cents/acre in the 1863 treaty. Wikipedia ↗
1958 — The Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing, in the process of being built to connect Vancouver and North Vancouver (Canada), collapses into the Burrard Inlet killing many of the ironworkers and injuring others. Wikipedia ↗
1953 — East Germany Workers Uprising: In East Germany, the Soviet Union orders a division of troops into East Berlin to quell a rebellion. Wikipedia ↗
1948 — A Douglas DC-6 carrying United Airlines Flight 624 crashes near Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, killing all 43 people on board. Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Iceland declares independence from Denmark and becomes a republic. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — World War II: RMS Lancastria is attacked and sunk by the Luftwaffe near Saint-Nazaire, France. At least 3,000 are killed in Britain's worst maritime disaster. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — World War II: The British Army's 11th Hussars assault and take Fort Capuzzo in Libya, Africa from Italian forces. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union. Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Last public guillotining in France: Eugen Weidmann, a convicted murderer, is guillotined in Versailles outside the Saint-Pierre prison. Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Union Station massacre: In Kansas City, Missouri, four FBI agents and captured fugitive Frank Nash are gunned down by gangsters attempting to free Nash. Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Bonus Army: Around a thousand World War I veterans amass at the United States Capitol as the U.S. Senate considers a bill that would give them certain benefits. Wikipedia ↗
1930 — U.S. President Herbert Hoover signs the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law. Wikipedia ↗
1929 — The town of Murchison, New Zealand Is rocked by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killing 17. At the time it was New Zealand's worst natural disaster. Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Portuguese naval aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral complete the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic. Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Aurel Vlaicu pilots an A. Vlaicu nr. 1 on its first flight. Wikipedia ↗
1901 — The College Board introduces its first standardized test, the forerunner to the SAT. Wikipedia ↗
1900 — Boxer Rebellion: Allied Western and Japanese forces capture the Taku Forts in Tianjin, China. Wikipedia ↗
1898 — The United States Navy Hospital Corps is established. Wikipedia ↗
1885 — The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor. Wikipedia ↗
1877 — American Indian Wars: Battle of White Bird Canyon: The Nez Perce defeat the U.S. Cavalry at White Bird Canyon in the Idaho Territory. Wikipedia ↗
1876 — American Indian Wars: Battle of the Rosebud: One thousand five hundred Sioux and Cheyenne led by Crazy Horse beat back General George Crook's forces at Rosebud Creek in Montana Territory. Wikipedia ↗
1863 — American Civil War: Battle of Aldie in the Gettysburg Campaign. Wikipedia ↗
1861 — American Civil War: Battle of Vienna, Virginia. Wikipedia ↗
1843 — The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes place. Wikipedia ↗
1839 — In the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kamehameha III issues the edict of toleration which gives Roman Catholics the freedom to worship in the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaii Catholic Church and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace are established as a result. Wikipedia ↗
1795 — The burghers of Swellendam expel the Dutch East India Company magistrate and declare a republic. Wikipedia ↗
1794 — Foundation of Anglo-Corsican Kingdom Wikipedia ↗
1789 — In France, the Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly. Wikipedia ↗
1775 — American Revolutionary War: Colonists inflict heavy casualties on British forces while losing the Battle of Bunker Hill. Wikipedia ↗
1773 — Cúcuta, Colombia, is discovered by Juana Rangel de Cuéllar. Wikipedia ↗
1767 — Samuel Wallis, an English sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island. Wikipedia ↗
1673 — French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet reach the Mississippi River and become the first Europeans to make a detailed account of its course. Wikipedia ↗
1631 — Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, will spend the next 17 years building her mausoleum, the Taj Mahal. Wikipedia ↗
1596 — The Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz discovers the Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen. Wikipedia ↗
1579 — Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England. Wikipedia ↗
1565 — Matsunaga Hisahide assassinates the 13th Ashikaga shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Wikipedia ↗
1497 — Battle of Deptford Bridge: Forces under King Henry VII defeat troops led by Michael An Gof. Wikipedia ↗
1462 — Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II (The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat from Wallachia. Wikipedia ↗
1244 — Following the Disputation of Paris, twenty-four carriage loads of Jewish religious manuscripts were burnt in Paris. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on June 17

1994 — Amari Cooper, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Ryan Allsop, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Daniel Tupou, Australian-Tongan rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Jordan Henderson, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Josh Mansour, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Georgios Tofas, Cypriot footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Simone Battle, American singer and actress (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Andrew Ogilvy, Australian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Shaun MacDonald, Welsh footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Stephanie Rice, Australian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Kendrick Lamar, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Nozomi Tsuji, Japanese singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Apoula Edel, Armenian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Helen Glover, English rower Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Özge Akın, Turkish sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Marcos Baghdatis, Cypriot tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Rafael Sóbis, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Michael Mathieu, Bahamian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Si Tianfeng, Chinese race walker Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Vlasis Kazakis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Lee Ryan, English singer/actor Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Stefan Hodgetts, English racing driver Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Stanislava Hrozenská, Slovak tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Marek Svatoš, Slovak ice hockey player (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Kyle Boller, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Shane Watson, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Jeph Jacques, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Elisa Rigaudo, Italian race walker Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Venus Williams, American tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Tyson Apostol, American television personality Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Young Maylay, American rapper, producer, and voice actor Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Nick Rimando, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Isabelle Delobel, French ice dancer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Travis Roche, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Tjaša Jezernik, Slovenian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Mark Tauscher, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Scott Adkins, English actor and martial artist Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Sven Nys, Belgian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Joshua Leonard, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Phiyada Akkraseranee, Thai actress and model Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Evangelia Psarra, Greek archer Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Leander Paes, Indian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Mildred Fox, Irish politician Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Stéphane Fiset, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Will Forte, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Jason Hanson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Popeye Jones, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Michael Showalter, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Paul Tergat, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Geoff Toovey, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Ilya Tsymbalar, Ukrainian-Russian footballer and manager (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Steve Georgallis, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Minoru Suzuki, Japanese wrestler and mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Dorothea Röschmann, German soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Eric Stefani, American keyboard player and composer Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Mohammed Ghazy Al-Akhras, Iraqi journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Tory Burch, American fashion designer and philanthropist Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Ken Clark, American football player (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Diane Modahl, English runner Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Jason Patric, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Dermontti Dawson, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Dan Jansen, American speed skater and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Dara O'Kearney, Irish runner and poker player Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Rinaldo Capello, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Michael Gross, German swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Steve Rhodes, English cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Greg Kinnear, American actor, television presenter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Michael Monroe, Finnish singer-songwriter and saxophonist (Hanoi Rocks and Demolition 23) Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Kōichi Yamadera, Japanese actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Adrián Campos, Spanish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Thomas Haden Church, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Lawrence Haddad, South African-English economist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Nikos Stavropoulos, Greek basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Pierre Berbizier, French rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Jello Biafra, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Bobby Farrelly, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Sam Hamad, Syrian-Canadian academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Jon Leibowitz, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Daniel McVicar, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Philip Chevron, Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Martin Dillon, American tenor and educator (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Uģis Prauliņš, Latvian composer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Iain Milne, Scottish rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Mati Laur, Estonian historian, author, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Bob Sauvé, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Cem Hakko, Turkish fashion designer and businessman Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Mark Linn-Baker, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Vernon Coaker, English educator and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Mike Milbury, American ice hockey player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Estelle Morris, Baroness Morris of Yardley, English educator and politician, Secretary of State for Education Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Starhawk, American author and activist Wikipedia ↗
1951 — John Garrett, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Joe Piscopo, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Lee Tamahori, New Zealand film director Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Snakefinger, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
1949 — John Craven, English economist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Russell Smith, American country singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Dave Concepción, Venezuelan baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Jacqueline Jones, American historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Aurelio López, Mexican baseball player and politician (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Karol Sikora, English physician and academic Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Christopher Allport, American actor (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Linda Chavez, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1947 — George S. Clinton, American composer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Gregg Rolie, American rock singer-songwriter and keyboard player (Santana, Journey) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Paul Young, English singer-songwriter (Sad Café, Mike + the Mechanics) (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Peter Rosei, Austrian author, poet, and playwright Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Tommy Franks, American general Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Ken Livingstone, English politician, 1st Mayor of London Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Eddy Merckx, Belgian cyclist and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Randy Johnson, American football player (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Chris Spedding, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Newt Gingrich, American historian and politician, 58th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Barry Manilow, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Chantal Mouffe, Belgian theorist and author Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Burt Rutan, American engineer and pilot Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Mohamed ElBaradei, Egyptian politician, Vice President of Egypt, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Doğu Perinçek, Turkish lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Roger Steffens, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Nicholas C. Handy, English chemist and academic (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1940 — George Akerlof, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Bobby Bell, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Chuck Rainey, American bassist Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Peter Fitzgerald, Irish footballer and manager (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Ted Nelson, American sociologist and philosopher Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Clodovil Hernandes, Brazilian fashion designer, television presenter and politician (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Vern Harper, Canadian tribal leader and activist Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Ken Loach, English director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Harry Browne, American soldier and politician (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Christian Ferras, French violinist (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Derek Ibbotson, English runner (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — John Murtha, American colonel and politician (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — John Baldessari, American painter and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Cliff Gallup, American rock & roll guitarist (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Brian Statham, English cricketer (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Bud Collins, American journalist and sportscaster (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Tigran Petrosian, Armenian chess player (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Martin Böttcher, German composer and conductor Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Wally Wood, American author, illustrator, and publisher (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Alexander Shulgin, American pharmacologist and chemist (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Elroy Hirsch, American football player (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Arnold S. Relman, American physician and academic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Dale C. Thomson, Canadian historian and academic (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — John Amis, English journalist and critic (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Jacob H. Gilbert, American lawyer and politician (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Setsuko Hara, Japanese actress (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — François Jacob, French biologist and geneticist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Peter Le Cheminant, English air marshal and politician, Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey Wikipedia ↗
1919 — William Kaye Estes, American psychologist and academic (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗