On This Day — May 17

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

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48 events · 211 births · 97 deaths recorded for May 17.

🕰️ Notable Events on May 17

2014 — A plane crash in northern Laos kills 17 people. Wikipedia ↗
2007 — Trains from North and South Korea cross the 38th Parallel in a test-run agreed by both governments. This is the first time that trains have crossed the Demilitarized Zone since 1953. Wikipedia ↗
2006 — The aircraft carrier USS Oriskany is sunk in the Gulf of Mexico as an artificial reef. Wikipedia ↗
2004 — The first legal same-sex marriages in the U.S. are performed in the state of Massachusetts. Wikipedia ↗
2000 — Arsenal and Galatasaray fans clash in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final riots in Copenhagen Wikipedia ↗
1997 — Troops of Laurent Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. Wikipedia ↗
1995 — Shawn Nelson steals an M60 tank from the California Army National Guard Armory in San Diego and proceeds to go on a rampage. Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Malawi holds its first multi-party elections. Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Three days of popular protests against the government of Prime Minister of Thailand Suchinda Kraprayoon begin in Bangkok, leading to a military crackdown that results in 52 officially confirmed deaths, hundreds of injuries, many disappearances, and more than 3,500 arrests. Wikipedia ↗
1990 — The General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) eliminates homosexuality from the list of psychiatric diseases. Wikipedia ↗
1987 — An Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 fighter jet fires two missiles into the U.S. Navy warship USS Stark, killing 37 and injuring 21 of her crew. Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Prince Charles calls a proposed addition to the National Gallery, London, a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend", sparking controversies on the proper role of the Royal Family and the course of modern architecture. Wikipedia ↗
1983 — The U.S. Department of Energy declassifies documents showing world's largest mercury pollution event in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (ultimately found to be 4.2 million pounds), in response to the Appalachian Observer's Freedom of Information Act request. Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Lebanon, Israel, and the United States sign an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. Wikipedia ↗
1980 — General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea seizes control of the government and declares martial law in order to suppress student demonstrations. Wikipedia ↗
1980 — On the eve of presidential elections, Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path attacks a polling location in Chuschi (a town in Ayacucho), starting the Internal conflict in Peru. Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Nolan Bushnell opened the first Chuck E. Cheese's in San Jose, California. Wikipedia ↗
1974 — The Troubles: Thirty-three civilians are killed and 300 injured when the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) detonates four car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan, Republic of Ireland. Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Police in Los Angeles raid the Symbionese Liberation Army's headquarters, killing six members, including Camilla Hall. Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Watergate scandal: Televised hearings begin in the United States Senate. Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Venera program: Soviet Venera 6 begins its descent into the atmosphere of Venus, sending back atmospheric data before being crushed by pressure. Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Six-Day War: President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt demands dismantling of the peace-keeping UN Emergency Force in Egypt. Wikipedia ↗
1954 — The United States Supreme Court hands down a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Wikipedia ↗
1943 — World War II: Dambuster Raids commence by No. 617 Squadron RAF. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium. Wikipedia ↗
1939 — The Columbia Lions and the Princeton Tigers play in the United States' first televised sporting event, a collegiate baseball game in New York City. Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Vidkun Quisling and Johan Bernhard Hjort form Nasjonal Samling — the national-socialist party of Norway. Wikipedia ↗
1915 — The last British Liberal Party government (led by Herbert Henry Asquith) falls. Wikipedia ↗
1914 — The Protocol of Corfu is signed, recognising full autonomy to Northern Epirus under nominal Albanian sovereignty. Wikipedia ↗
1902 — Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais discovers the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical analog computer. Wikipedia ↗
1900 — Second Boer War: British troops relieve Mafeking. Wikipedia ↗
1875 — Aristides wins the first Kentucky Derby. Wikipedia ↗
1869 — Imperial Japanese forces defeat the remnants of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Battle of Hakodate to end the Boshin War. Wikipedia ↗
1865 — The International Telegraph Union (later the International Telecommunication Union) is established in Paris. Wikipedia ↗
1863 — Rosalía de Castro publishes Cantares Gallegos, the first book in the Galician language. Wikipedia ↗
1859 — Members of the Melbourne Football Club codified the first rules of Australian rules football. Wikipedia ↗
1814 — Occupation of Monaco changes from French to Austrian. Wikipedia ↗
1814 — The Constitution of Norway is signed and Crown Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark is elected King of Norway by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly. Wikipedia ↗
1809 — Emperor Napoleon I orders the annexation of the Papal States to the French Empire. Wikipedia ↗
1805 — Muhammad Ali becomes Wāli of Egypt. Wikipedia ↗
1792 — The New York Stock Exchange is formed under the Buttonwood Agreement. Wikipedia ↗
1673 — Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette begin exploring the Mississippi River. Wikipedia ↗
1642 — Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve (1612-1676) founds the Ville Marie de Montréal. Wikipedia ↗
1590 — Anne of Denmark is crowned Queen of Scotland. Wikipedia ↗
1536 — George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford and four other men are executed for treason. Wikipedia ↗
1536 — Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn's marriage is annulled. Wikipedia ↗
1521 — Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason. Wikipedia ↗
1395 — Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on May 17

1991 — Johanna Konta, Australian-English tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Fabian Giefer, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Charlie Gubb, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Katrina Hart, English runner Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Guido Pella, Argentine tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Mose Masoe, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Rain Raadik, Estonian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Tessa Virtue, Canadian ice dancer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Nikki Reed, American actress, singer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Jennison Myrie-Williams, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Edvald Boasson Hagen, Norwegian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Aleandro Rosi, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Marius Činikas, Lithuanian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Timo Simonlatser, Estonian skier Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Jodie Taylor, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Todd Redmond, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Matt Ryan, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Teófilo Gutiérrez, Colombian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Derek Hough, American actor, singer, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Christine Nesbitt, Canadian speed skater Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Christian Bolaños, Costa Rican footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Christine Ohuruogu, English runner Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Christine Robinson, Canadian water polo player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Channing Frye, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Chris Henry, American football player (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Nicky Hofs, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Kevin Kingston, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Jeremy Sowers, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Matt Cassel, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Dan Hardy, English mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Reiko Nakamura, Japanese swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Tony Parker, French-American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Chloe Smith, English politician Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Beñat Albizuri, Spanish cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Leon Osman, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Chris Skidmore, English historian and politician Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Giannis Taralidis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Davor Džalto, Bosnian historian and philosopher Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Fredrik Kessiakoff, Swedish cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1979 — David Jarolím, Czech footballer Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Wayne Thomas, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — John Foster, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Paddy Kenny, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Carlos Peña, Dominican-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Magdalena Zděnovcová, Czech tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Kandi Burruss, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Shayne Dunley, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — José Guillén, Dominican-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Daniel Komen, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Wang Leehom, American-Taiwanese singer-songwriter, producer, actor, and director Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Mayte Martínez, Spanish runner Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Alex Wright, German wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Andrea Corr, Irish singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Wiki González, Venezuelan baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Eddie Lewis, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Josh Homme, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Mark Connors, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Shaun Hart, Australian footballer, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Queen Máxima of the Netherlands Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Hubert Davis, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Jordan Knight, American singer-songwriter and actor (New Kids on the Block) Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Matt Lindland, American mixed martial artist, wrestler, and politician Wikipedia ↗
1970 — René Vilbre, Estonian director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Keith Hill, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Dave Abbruzzese, American rock drummer and songwriter (Pearl Jam) Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Mohamed Nasheed, Maldivian lawyer and politician 4th President of the Maldives Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Qusay Hussein, Iraqi soldier and politician (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Mark Kratzmann, Australian tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Danny Manning, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Gilles Quénéhervé, French sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Trent Reznor, American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Jeremy Vine, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Stratos Apostolakis, Greek footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Mauro Martini, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Menno Oosting, Dutch tennis player (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Jon Koncak, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Page McConnell, American keyboard player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Lise Lyng Falkenberg, Danish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Andrew Farrar, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Craig Ferguson, Scottish-American comedian, actor, and talk show host Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Jane Moore, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Rosalind Picard, American computer scientist and engineer, co-founded Affectiva Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Enya, Irish singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Jamil Azzaoui, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Justin King, English businessman Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Lou DiBella, American boxing promoter, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Simon Fuller, English talent manager and producer, created the Idols series Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Marcelo Loffreda, Argentine rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Paul Di'Anno, English rock singer-songwriter (Iron Maiden) Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Pascual Pérez, Dominican baseball player (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Sugar Ray Leonard, American boxer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Annise Parker, American politician Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Bob Saget, American comedian, actor, and television host Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Dave Sim, Canadian cartoonist and author Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Bill Paxton, American actor and director (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1955 — David Townsend, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Michael Roberts, South African-English jockey Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Howard Hampton, Canadian lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Simon Hughes, English lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Howard Ashman, American playwright and composer (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Keith Bradley, Baron Bradley, English accountant and politician Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Janez Drnovšek, Slovenian economist and politician, 2nd President of Slovenia (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Alan Johnson, English politician, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Valeriya Novodvorskaya, Russian journalist and politician (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Bill Bruford, English drummer, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Keith, American pop singer Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Dick Gaughan, Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Stephen Platten, English bishop Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Udo Lindenberg, German singer-songwriter and drummer Wikipedia ↗
1945 — B.S. Chandrasekhar, Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Tony Roche, Australian tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Jesse Winchester, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Sirajuddin of Perlis, Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Johnny Warren, Australian footballer, coach, and sportscaster (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Taj Mahal, American blues singer-songwriter and musician Wikipedia ↗
1941 — David Cope, American composer and author Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Ben Nelson, American lawyer and politician, 37th Governor of Nebraska Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Alan Kay, American computer scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Reynato Puno, Filipino lawyer and jurist, 22nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Hugh Dykes, Baron Dykes, English politician Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Gary Paulsen, American author Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Jason Bernard, American actor (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Pervis Jackson, American R&B bass singer (The Spinners) (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Hazel R. O'Leary, American lawyer and politician, 7th United States Secretary of Energy Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Dennis Hopper, American actor and director (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Dennis Potter, English voice actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Friedrich-Wilhelm Kiel, German educator and politician Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Earl Morrall, American football player and coach (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Ronald Wayne, American computer scientist, co-founded Apple Inc. Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Yelena Gorchakova, Russian javelin thrower (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Rodric Braithwaite, English soldier and diplomat, British Ambassador to Russia Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Peter Burge, Australian cricketer (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Marshall Applewhite, American cult leader, founded Heaven's Gate (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Dewey Redman, American saxophonist (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Branko Zebec, Yugoslav football player and coach (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1926 — David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie, English-Scottish soldier and politician Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Dietmar Schönherr, Austrian-Spanish actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Franz Sondheimer, German-English chemist and academic (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Roy Bentley, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Francis Tombs, Baron Tombs, English engineer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Michael Beetham, English commander and pilot (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Anthony Eyton, English painter and educator Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Jean Rédélé, French race car driver, founded Alpine (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Dennis Brain, English composer (d. 1957) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Bob Merrill, American composer and screenwriter (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Harry Männil, Estonian-Venezuelan businessman, co-founded ACO Group (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Antonio Aguilar, Mexican singer-songwriter, producer, actor, and screenwriter (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Merle Miller, American author and screenwriter (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Gustav Naan, Russian-Estonian physicist and philosopher (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1918 — Birgit Nilsson, Swedish operatic soprano (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1914 — Robert N. Thompson, American-Canadian chiropractor and politician (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1913 — Hans Ruesch, Swiss race car driver and author (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗