✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 107th day of the year

April 17

A look at April 17 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Joan Lorring and Alain Poher, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2014

    NASA

    NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star.

    American space and aeronautics
  2. 2013

    West Fertilizer Company explosion

    An explosion at a fertilizer plant in the city of West, Texas, kills 15 people and injures 160 others.

    2013 explosion of ammonium
  3. 1969

    Sirhan Sirhan

    Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy.

    Assassin of Robert F.
  4. 1969

    Communist Party of Czechoslovakia

    Communist Party of Czechoslovakia chairman Alexander Dubček is deposed.

    Ruling party of Czechoslovakia
  5. 1951

    Peak District

    The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park.

    Upland area in England
  6. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: The Axis powers invasion of Yugoslavia is completed when it signs an armistice with Germany and Italy.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1863

    American Civil War

    American Civil War: Grierson's Raid begins: Troops under Union Army Colonel Benjamin Grierson attack central Mississippi.

    1861–1865 conflict in the
  8. 1861

    Virginia

    The state of Virginia's secession convention votes to secede from the United States; Virginia later becomes the eighth state to join the Confederate States of America.

    U.S. state
  9. 1797

    Verona

    Citizens of Verona begin an unsuccessful eight-day rebellion against the French occupying forces.

    City in Veneto, Italy
  10. 1492

    Christopher Columbus

    Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices.

    Italian navigator and explorer
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Famous birthday twins

Born on April 17

Joan Lorring

b. 1926

British actress

Alain Poher

b. 1909

French politician, President of France

Victoria Beckham

b. 1974

English singer and fashion designer

Alexander Cartwright

b. 1820

American firefighter and (disputed) inventor of baseball

Michael IX Palaiologos

b. 1277

Byzantine emperor

J. P. Morgan

b. 1837

American banker and financier, founded J.P. Morgan & Co.

Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria

b. 1573

Duke/Elector of Bavaria from 1597 to 1651

James Last

b. 1929

German-American bassist, composer, and bandleader

Deaths

  • 2014Gabriel García Márquez, Colombian journalist and author, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1988Louise Nevelson, Ukrainian-American sculptor and educator
  • 1960Eddie Cochran, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1790Benjamin Franklin, American inventor, publisher, and politician, 6th President of Pennsylvania
  • 1680Kateri Tekakwitha, Mohawk-born Native American saint
  • 1574Joachim Camerarius, German scholar and translator

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Donnán of Eigg
  • —Christian feast day: Henry Heath
  • —Christian feast day: Kateri Tekakwitha (Canada)
  • —Christian feast day: Robert of Molesme
  • —Christian feast day: Shemon bar Sabbae
  • —Christian feast day: April 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —Evacuation Day (Syria), celebrates the recognition of the independence of Syria from France in 1946.
  • —FAO Day (Iraq)

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