On This Day — October 17

🕰️ Notable Events on October 17

• 2003 — The pinnacle is fitted on the roof of Taipei 101, a 101-floor skyscraper in Taipei, allowing it to surpass the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur by 56 metres (184 ft) and become the world's tallest highrise. Wikipedia ↗
• 2001 — Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi becomes the first Israeli minister to be assassinated in a terrorist attack. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — Train crash at Hatfield, north of London, leading to collapse of Railtrack. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Russian journalist Dmitry Kholodov is assassinated while investigating corruption in the armed forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Having gone to the wrong house for a Halloween party, Japanese exchange student Yoshihiro Hattori is shot and killed by the homeowner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — The 6.9 Mw Loma Prieta earthquake shakes the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Coast with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). Sixty-three people were killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Peaceful Revolution: The East German Politburo votes to remove Erich Honecker from his role as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — As part of the Holy See-United Kingdom relations a British monarch makes the first state visit to the Vatican Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Mother Teresa is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — The Department of Education Organization Act is signed into law creating the US Department of Education and US Department of Health and Human Services. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — German Autumn: Four days after it is hijacked, Lufthansa Flight 181 lands in Mogadishu, Somalia, where a team of German GSG 9 commandos later rescues all remaining hostages on board. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — OPEC imposes an oil embargo against a number of Western countries, considered to have helped Israel in its war against Egypt and Syria. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Montreal: Quebec Vice-Premier and Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte was murdered by members of the FLQ terrorist group. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — The 23rd Street Fire in New York City kills 12 firefighters, the fire department's deadliest day until the September 11, 2001 attacks. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — The 1964-65 New York World's Fair closes after a two-year run. More than 51 million people had attended the event. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Scores of Algerian protesters (some claim up to 400) are massacred by the Paris police at the instigation of former Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, then chief of the Prefecture of Police. Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — The first commercial nuclear power station is officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in Sellafield, in Cumbria, England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Donald Byrne and Bobby Fischer play a famous chess game called The Game of the Century. Fischer beat Byrne and wins a Brilliancy prize. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — A massive number of people, headed by CGT, gather in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina to demand Juan Perón's release. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens becomes Prime Minister of Greece between the pull-out of the German occupation force in 1944 and the return of King Georgios II to Greece. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — The Burma Railway (Burma-Thailand Railway) is completed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — The Holocaust in Poland: Sobibór extermination camp is closed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: a German submarine attacks an American ship for the first time in the war. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — German troops execute the male population of the villages Kerdyllia in Serres, Greece. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — The body of Communist propagandist Willi Münzenberg found in South France, starting a never-resolved mystery. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Albert Einstein flees Nazi Germany and moves to the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Al Capone is convicted of income tax evasion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — RCA is incorporated as the Radio Corporation of America. Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia declare war on the Ottoman Empire, joining Montenegro in the First Balkan War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Guglielmo Marconi's company begins the first commercial transatlantic wireless service between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and Clifden, Ireland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — Thomas Edison files a patent for the Optical Phonograph (the first movie). Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — Nineteen people are killed in the Cullin-la-ringo massacre, the deadliest massacre of Europeans by aborigines in Australian history. Wikipedia ↗
• 1860 — First The Open Championship (referred to in North America as the British Open). Wikipedia ↗
• 1827 — Bellini's third opera, Il pirata, is premiered at Teatro alla Scala di Milano Wikipedia ↗
• 1814 — Eight people die in the London Beer Flood. Wikipedia ↗
• 1806 — Former leader of the Haitian Revolution, Emperor Jacques I of Haiti is assassinated after an oppressive rule. Wikipedia ↗
• 1800 — Britain takes control of the Dutch colony of Curaçao. Wikipedia ↗
• 1781 — American Revolutionary War: British General Charles, Earl Cornwallis surrenders at the Siege of Yorktown. Wikipedia ↗
• 1777 — American Revolutionary War: British General John Burgoyne surrenders his army at Saratoga, New York. Wikipedia ↗
• 1771 — Premiere in Milan of the opera Ascanio in Alba, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, age 15. Wikipedia ↗
• 1662 — Charles II of England sells Dunkirk to France for 40,000 pounds. Wikipedia ↗
• 1660 — Nine regicides, the men who signed the death warrant of Charles I, are hanged, drawn and quartered. Wikipedia ↗
• 1610 — French king Louis XIII is crowned in Reims Cathedral. Wikipedia ↗
• 1604 — Kepler's Supernova: German astronomer Johannes Kepler observes a supernova in the constellation Ophiuchus. Wikipedia ↗
• 1558 — Poczta Polska, the Polish postal service, is founded. Wikipedia ↗
• 1456 — The University of Greifswald is established, making it the second oldest university in northern Europe (also for a period the oldest in Sweden, and Prussia). Wikipedia ↗
• 1448 — Second Battle of Kosovo, where the mainly Hungarian army led by John Hunyadi is defeated by an Ottoman army led by Sultan Murad II. Wikipedia ↗
• 1346 — Battle of Neville's Cross: King David II of Scotland is captured by the English near Durham, and imprisoned in the Tower of London for eleven years. Wikipedia ↗
• 1091 — London tornado of 1091: A tornado thought to be of strength T8/F4 strikes the heart of London. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on October 17

• 2001 — Thomas Strudwick, British motorcycle road racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Paolo Campinoti, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Saki Kumagai, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Patrick Lambie, South African rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Oleksandr Isakov, Ukrainian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Bea Alonzo, Filipino actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Jarosław Fojut, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Hideto Takahashi, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Aija Brumermane, Latvian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Yannick Ponsero, French figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Carlos González, Venezuelan baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Collins John, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Baran Kosari, Iranian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Tomokazu Nagira, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Jared Tallent, Australian race walker Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Randall Munroe, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Luke Rockhold, American mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Anja Eline Skybakmoen, Norwegian singer-songwriter and bandleader Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Milica Brozovic, Serbian-Russian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Felicity Jones, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Toshihiro Matsushita, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Riki Miura, Japanese actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Junichi Miyashita, Japanese swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Ivan Saenko, Russian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Mitch Talbot, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Vitali Teleš, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Nick Riewoldt, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Tsubasa Imai, Japanese singer, actor, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Alessandro Piccolo, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Mohammad Hafeez, Pakistani cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Yekaterina Gamova, Russian volleyball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Marcela Bovio, Mexican singer-songwriter and violinist Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Alexandros Nikolaidis, Greek martial artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Kostas Tsartsaris, Greek basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Jerry Flannery, Irish rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Chuka Umunna, English lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Dudu Aouate, Israeli footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Alimi Ballard, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Bryan Bertino, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Ryan McGinley, American photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — André Villas-Boas, Portuguese footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Sebastián Abreu, Uruguayan footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Kevin Maher, English-Irish footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Francis Bouillon, American-Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Vina Morales, Filipino actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Ariel Levy, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Matthew Macfadyen, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Janne Puurtinen, Finnish keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — John Rocker, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Dhondup Wangchen, Chinese director and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Andrea Tarozzi, Italian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Eminem, American rapper, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Tarkan, German-Turkish singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Joe McEwing, American baseball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Chris Kirkpatrick, American singer-songwriter and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Kim Ljung, Norwegian singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Anil Kumble, Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — John Mabry, American baseball player, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Blues Saraceno, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Ernie Els, South African golfer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Wyclef Jean, Haitian-American rapper, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Rick Mercer, Canadian comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Graeme Le Saux, English footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Ziggy Marley, Jamaican singer-songwriter, guitarist, and voice actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — David Robertson, Scottish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Simon Segars, English businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Nathalie Tauziat, French tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Shaun Edwards, English rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Danny Ferry, American basketball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Tommy Kendall, American race car driver and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lankan cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Gregg Wallace, English television presenter Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Sergio Goycochea, Argentinian footballer and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Norm Macdonald, Canadian actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Toby Young, English journalist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Glenn Braggs, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Mike Judge, American animator, director, screenwriter, producer and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — David Means, American short story writer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Guy Henry, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Rob Marshall, American director, producer, and choreographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Bernie Nolan, Irish singer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Philippe Sands, American lawyer and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Ron Drummond, American author and scholar Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Francisco Flores Pérez, Salvadorian politician, President of El Salvador (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Russell Gilbert, Australian comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Mark Peel, Australian historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Richard Roeper, American journalist and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Howard Alden, American guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Alan Jackson, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Craig Murray, British diplomat Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Lawrence Bender, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Steve McMichael, American football player, wrestler, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Vincent Van Patten, American tennis player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Fran Cosmo, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Mae Jemison, American physician, academic, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Pat McCrory, American businessman and politician, 74th Governor of North Carolina Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Stephen Palumbi, American academic and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Georgios Alogoskoufis, Greek economist, academic, and politician, Greek Minister of Finance Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Carlos Buhler, American mountaineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Joseph Bowie, American trombonist and bandleader Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Annie Borckink, Dutch speed skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Roger Pontare, Swedish singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Shari Ulrich, American-Canadian singer-songwriter and violinist Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Philippe Barbarin, French cardinal Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Howard Rollins, American actor (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Owen Arthur, Barbadian economist and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Barbados Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Bill Hudson, American musician and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Robert Jordan, American soldier and author (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Margot Kidder, Canadian-American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — George Wendt, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Gene Green, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Michael McKean, American singer-songwriter, actor, and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Robert Post, American educator and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Ronni Chasen, American publicist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Michael Hossack, American drummer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Cameron Mackintosh, English producer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Adam Michnik, Polish journalist and historian Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Drusilla Modjeska, English-Australian author and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Bob Seagren, American pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Steve Jones, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Gary Puckett, American pop singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Earl Thomas Conley, American country singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Jim Seals, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and violinist Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Stephen Kovacevich, American pianist and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Jim Smith, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Peter Stringfellow, English businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Oliver Rackham, English botanist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Evel Knievel, American motorcycle rider and stuntman (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Les Murray, Australian anthologist, poet, and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Paxton Whitehead, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Sathima Bea Benjamin, South African singer-songwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Hiroo Kanamori, Japanese-American seismologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Sydney Chapman, English architect and politician, Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Michael Eavis, English farmer, founded the Glastonbury Festival Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Alan Garner, English author and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Johnny Haynes, English-Scottish footballer (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Rico Rodriguez, American trombonist (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — William Anders, Hong Kong-American general and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — The Singing Nun, Belgian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and nun (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Ernst Hinterberger, Austrian author and playwright (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Ismail Akbay, Turkish physicist and engineer (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Robert Atkins, American physician and cardiologist, created the Atkins diet (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Jimmy Breslin, American journalist and author (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Mário Wilson, Mozambican footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Julie Adams, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Beverly Garland, American actress (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Roberto Lippi, Italian race car driver (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Harry Carpenter, English sportscaster (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Don Coryell, American football player and coach (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Anton Geiser, Croatian SS officer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on October 17 (Calendar.cx)