On This Day — March 17

🕰️ Notable Events on March 17

• 2011 — United Nations Security Council Resolution 1972 relating to Somalia is adopted. Wikipedia ↗
• 2011 — United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 relating to Libyan Civil War is adopted. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Unrest in Kosovo: More than 22 are killed and 200 wounded. Thirty-five Serbian Orthodox shrines in Kosovo and two mosques in Serbia are destroyed. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Robin Cook, resigns from the British Cabinet in disagreement with government plans for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — Five hundred thirty members of the Ugandan cult Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God die in a fire, considered to be a mass murder or suicide orchestrated by leaders of the cult. Elsewhere another 248 members are later found dead. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Israeli Embassy attack in Buenos Aires: Car bomb attack kills 29 and injures 242. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — A referendum to end apartheid in South Africa is passed 68.7% to 31.2%. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — A Colombian Boeing 727 jetliner, Avianca Flight 410, crashes into a mountainside near the Venezuelan border killing 143. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Eritrean War of Independence: The Nadew Command, an Ethiopian army corps in Eritrea, is attacked on three sides by military units of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front in the opening action of the Battle of Afabet. Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Serial killer Richard Ramirez, aka the "Night Stalker", commits the first two murders in his Los Angeles murder spree. Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — The Penmanshiel Tunnel collapses during engineering works, killing two workers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — The Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph Burst of Joy is taken, depicting a former prisoner of war being reunited with his family, which came to symbolize the end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — My Lai Massacre: The United States Army charges 14 officers with suppressing information related to the incident. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Golda Meir becomes the first female Prime Minister of Israel. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — As a result of nerve gas testing in Skull Valley, Utah, over 6,000 sheep are found dead. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean, the DSV Alvin submarine finds a missing American hydrogen bomb. Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Mount Agung erupted on Bali killing more than 1,100 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the National Security Council directive on the anti-Cuban covert action program that will ultimately lead to the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, flees Tibet for India. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — The United States launches the Vanguard 1 satellite. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — A plane crash in Cebu, Philippines kills Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay and 24 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley announce the creation of element 98, which they name "californium". Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Brussels, a precursor to the North Atlantic Treaty establishing NATO. Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — First flight of the B-45 Tornado strategic bomber. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — The Ludendorff Bridge in Remagen, Germany, collapses, ten days after its capture. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Holocaust: The first Jews from the Lvov Ghetto are gassed at the Belzec death camp in what is today eastern Poland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — In Washington, D.C., the National Gallery of Art is officially opened by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Nanchang between the Kuomintang and Japan begins, Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — The Second Polish Republic adopts the March Constitution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — SS Utopia collides with HMS Anson in the Bay of Gibraltar and sinks, killing 562 of the 880 passengers on board. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — The Kingdom of Italy is proclaimed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1860 — The First Taranaki War begins in Taranaki, New Zealand, a major phase of the New Zealand land wars. Wikipedia ↗
• 1842 — The Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is formed; Wikipedia ↗
• 1824 — The Malay archipelago splits into two domains after the Anglo-Dutch Treaty is signed in London. As a result, the Malay Peninsula is dominated by the British, while Sumatra and Java and surrounding areas are dominated by the Dutch. Wikipedia ↗
• 1805 — The Italian Republic, with Napoleon as president, becomes the Kingdom of Italy, with Napoleon as King. Wikipedia ↗
• 1780 — American Revolution: George Washington grants the Continental Army a holiday "as an act of solidarity with the Irish in their fight for independence". Wikipedia ↗
• 1776 — American Revolution: British forces evacuate Boston, ending the Siege of Boston, after George Washington and Henry Knox place artillery in positions overlooking the city. Wikipedia ↗
• 1677 — The Siege of Valenciennes, during the Franco-Dutch War, ends with France's taking of the city. Wikipedia ↗
• 1560 — Fort Coligny on Villegagnon Island in Rio de Janeiro is attacked and destroyed during the Portuguese campaign against France Antarctique. Wikipedia ↗
• 1452 — The Battle of Los Alporchones is fought in the context of the Spanish Reconquista between the Emirate of Granada and the combined forces of the Kingdom of Castile and Murcia resulting in a Christian victory. Wikipedia ↗
• 1337 — Edward, the Black Prince is made Duke of Cornwall, the first Duchy in England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1001 — The Raja of Butuan in what is now the Philippines sends a tributary mission to the Song dynasty. Wikipedia ↗
• 455 — Petronius Maximus becomes, with support of the Roman Senate, emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Wikipedia ↗
• 180 — Marcus Aurelius dies leaving Commodus the sole emperor of the Roman Empire. Wikipedia ↗
• In his last victory, Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger in the Battle of Munda. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on March 17

• 1997 — Katie Ledecky, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Ashley Taylor, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Matteo Bianchetti, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Jack De Belin, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Hozier, Irish singer-songwriter and musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Saina Nehwal, Indian Badminton Player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Shinji Kagawa, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Rasmus Elm, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Fraser Forster, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Grimes, Canadian artist musician and music video director Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Ryan White, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Federico Fazio, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Krisnan Inu, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Ryan Parent, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Bobby Ryan, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Chris Davis, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Edin Džeko, Bosnian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Miles Kane, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Silke Spiegelburg, German pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ryan Rottman, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Raul Meireles, Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Steven Pienaar, South African footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Aaron Baddeley, American-Australian golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Servet Çetin, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Kyle Korver, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Danny Califf, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistani tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Andrew Ference, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Stephen Kramer Glickman, Canadian-American actor, director, producer, and fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Zachery Kouwe, American journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Tamar Braxton, American singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Scott Downs, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Justin Hawkins, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Puneeth Rajkumar, Indian actor, singer, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Test, Canadian-American wrestler (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Natalie Zea, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Mark Dolan, English comedian and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Rico Blanco, Filipino singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Caroline Corr, Irish singer and drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Vance Wilson, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Melissa Auf der Maur, Canadian-American singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Torquil Campbell, English-Canadian singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Mia Hamm, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Bill Mueller, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Patrick Lebeau, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Gene Ween, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Edgar Grospiron, French skier Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Alexander McQueen, English fashion designer, founded own eponymous brand (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Eri Nitta, Japanese singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Mathew St. Patrick, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Jason Alchin, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Billy Corgan, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Barry Minkow, American pastor and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Andrew Rosindell, English journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Andrew Hudson, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Stefano Borgonovo, Italian footballer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Lee Dixon, English footballer and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Rob Lowe, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Jacques Songo'o, Cameroonian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Roger Harper, Guyanese cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Carsten Almqvist, Swedish business executive Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Ank Bijleveld, Dutch politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Janet Gardner, American singer and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Sam Bowie, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Dana Reeve, American actress, singer, and activist (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Casey Siemaszko, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Arye Gross, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Vicki Lewis, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Danny Ainge, American baseball and basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Paul Black, American singer-songwriter and drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Christian Clemenson, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Jorge Ramos, Mexican-American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Michael Kelly, American journalist and author (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Patrick McDonnell, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Rory McGrath, British comedian, television personality, and writer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Cynthia McKinney, American activist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Paul Overstreet, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Gary Sinise, American actor, director, and bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Lesley-Anne Down, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Filemon Lagman, Filipino activist (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Chuck Muncie, American football player (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Barry Horne, English activist (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Scott Gorham, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Craig Ramsay, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Kurt Russell, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Patrick Duffy, American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Pat Rice, Irish footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Stuart Rose, English businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — William Gibson, American-Canadian author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Alex MacDonald, Scottish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Yury Chernavsky, Russian-American songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Michael Hayden, American general, 20th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Pattie Boyd, English model, author, and photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Cito Gaston, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — John Sebastian, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Jeff Banks, Welsh fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Andrew Brook, Canadian philosopher, author, and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Wang Jin-pyng, Taiwanese soldier and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Paul Kantner, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Max Stafford-Clark, English director and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Mark White, American lawyer and politician, 43rd Governor of Texas Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Jim Gary, American sculptor (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Bill Graham, Canadian academic and politician, 4th Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Robin Knox-Johnston, English sailor and first person to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Giovanni Trapattoni, Italian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Rudolf Nureyev, Russian-French dancer and choreographer (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Keith O'Brien, Northern Ireland-born Scottish cleric, theologian, and cardinal Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Zola Taylor, American singer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Galina Samsova, Russian ballerina Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Ladislav Kupkovič, Slovakian composer and conductor (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Ken Mattingly, American admiral, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Fred T. Mackenzie, American biologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Adam Wade, American singer, drummer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Myrlie Evers-Williams, American journalist and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Penelope Lively, English author Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Patricia Breslin, American actress (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — David Peakall, English-American chemist and toxicologist (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Paul Horn, American-Canadian flute player and saxophonist (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — James Irwin, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — William John McKeag, Canadian businessman and politician, 17th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Betty Allen, American soprano and educator (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Siegfried Lenz, Polish-German author and playwright (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Gabriele Ferzetti, Italian actor (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Stephen Dodgson, English composer and educator (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Patrick Suppes, American psychologist and philosopher (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Meir Amit, Israeli general and politician, 12th Israeli Minister of Communications (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladeshi politician, 1st President of Bangladesh (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Nat King Cole, American singer, pianist, and television host (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Ray Ellington, English drummer and bandleader (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Bill Roycroft, Australian equestrian rider (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Sammy Baugh, American football player and coach (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Bayard Rustin, American activist (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Sonny Werblin, American businessman and philanthropist (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Jean Van Houtte, Belgian academic and politician, 50th Prime Minister of Belgium (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Takeo Miki, Japanese politician, 41st Prime Minister of Japan (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Brigitte Helm, German-Swiss actress (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Chaim Gross, Austrian-American sculptor and educator (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Bobby Jones, American golfer and lawyer (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1901 — Alfred Newman, American composer and conductor (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Lloyd Rees, Australian painter (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1894 — Paul Green, American playwright and academic (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Sayed Darwish, Egyptian singer-songwriter and producer (d. 1923) Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — Harry Clarke, Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator (d. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — Paul Ramadier, French lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of France (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1886 — Princess Patricia of Connaught (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Ralph Rose, American shot putter, discus thrower, and tug of war competitor (d. 1913) Wikipedia ↗
• 1884 — Alcide Nunez, American clarinet player (d. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
• 1881 — Walter Rudolf Hess, Swiss physiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1880 — Patrick Hastings, English lawyer and politician, Attorney General for England and Wales (d. 1952) Wikipedia ↗
• 1880 — Lawrence Oates, English lieutenant and explorer (d. 1912) Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — Otto Gross, Austrian-German psychoanalyst and philosopher (d. 1920) Wikipedia ↗
• 1867 — Patrice Contamine de Latour, Spanish poet (d. 1926) Wikipedia ↗
• 1866 — Pierce Butler, American lawyer and jurist (d. 1939) Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — Joseph Baptista, Indian engineer, lawyer, and politician (d. 1930) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on March 17 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on March 17

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Saint Patrick's Day (CA,GB,IE) · জাতির পিতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান এর জন্মদিবস (BD)