✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 351st day of the year

December 17

A look at December 17 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including David Rudisha and Émilie du Châtelet, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♐ZodiacSagittarius ◈BirthstoneTurquoise ❀Birth flowerHolly
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1970

    December 1970 protests in Poland

    Polish protests: In Gdynia, soldiers fire at workers emerging from trains, killing dozens.

    Unrest in Poland
  2. 1967

    Harold Holt

    Harold Holt, Prime Minister of Australia, disappears while swimming near Portsea, Victoria, and is presumed drowned.

    Prime Minister of Australia
  3. 1951

    Civil Rights Congress

    The American Civil Rights Congress delivers "We Charge Genocide" to the United Nations.

    United States civil rights
  4. 1948

    Finnish Security and Intelligence Service

    The Finnish Security Police is established to remove communist leadership from its predecessor, the State Police.

    National security and intelligence
  5. 1939

    World War II

    World War II: Battle of the River Plate: The Admiral Graf Spee is scuttled by Captain Hans Langsdorff outside Montevideo.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1862

    American Civil War

    American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky.

    1861–1865 conflict in the
  7. 1790

    Aztec sun stone

    The Aztec calendar stone is discovered at El Zócalo, Mexico City.

    16th-century Mexica sculpture
  8. 1583

    Cologne War

    Cologne War: Forces under Ernest of Bavaria defeat troops under Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg at the Siege of Godesberg.

    1583–1588 religious war in
  9. 942

    William Longsword

    Assassination of William I of Normandy.

    Count of Normandy from
  10. 546

    Sack of Rome (546)

    Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under king Totila plunder the city, by bribing the Eastern Roman garrison.

    Siege of Rome during
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 17

David Rudisha

b. 1988

Kenyan runner

Émilie du Châtelet

b. 1706

French mathematician and physicist

Laurie Holden

b. 1969

American actress and model

Sophus Lie

b. 1842

Norwegian mathematician and academic

Claire Forlani

b. 1971

English actress

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu

b. 1948

Turkish economist and politician

Peter Snell

b. 1938

New Zealand runner

Prince Joachim of Prussia

b. 1890

Prussian prince

Deaths

  • 2011Kim Jong Il, North Korean commander and politician, second Supreme Leader of North Korea
  • 1967Harold Holt, Australian lawyer and politician, 17th Prime Minister of Australia
  • 1909Leopold II of Belgium, King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909
  • 1857Francis Beaufort, Irish hydrographer and officer in the Royal Navy
  • 1830Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan general and politician, second President of Venezuela
  • 942William Longsword, duke of Normandy

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Daniel the Prophet
  • —Christian feast day: Josep Manyanet i Vives
  • —Christian feast day: Lazarus of Bethany (local commemoration in Cuba)
  • —Christian feast day: O Sapientia
  • —Christian feast day: Olympias the Deaconess
  • —Christian feast day: Wivina
  • —Christian feast day: Sturm
  • —Christian feast day: December 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

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