✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 17th day of the year

January 17

A look at January 17 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Tabaré Vázquez and Anita Borg, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneGarnet ❀Birth flowerCarnation
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2010

    2010 Jos riots

    Rioting begins between Muslim and Christian groups in Jos, Nigeria, results in at least 200 deaths.

    Ethno-religious conflict in central
  2. 2002

    Mount Nyiragongo

    Mount Nyiragongo erupts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, displacing an estimated 400,000 people.

    Active volcano in the
  3. 1989

    Stockton schoolyard shooting

    Patrick Purdy opens fire at an elementary school in Stockton, California, killing five and wounding 31 others.

    1989 mass shooting in
  4. 1961

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers a televised farewell address to the nation three days before leaving office, in which he warns against the accumulation of power by the "military–industrial complex" as well as the dangers of massive spending, especially deficit spending.

    World War II general,
  5. 1945

    Raoul Wallenberg

    Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg is taken into Soviet custody while in Hungary; he is never publicly seen again.

    Swedish diplomat and humanitarian
  6. 1943

    World War II

    World War II: Greek submarine Papanikolis captures the 200-ton sailing vessel Agios Stefanos and mans her with part of her crew.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1912

    Robert Falcon Scott

    British polar explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole, one month after Roald Amundsen.

    British Antarctic explorer (1868–1912)
  8. 1893

    Lorrin A. Thurston

    Lorrin A. Thurston, along with the Citizens' Committee of Public Safety, led the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the government of Queen Liliʻuokalani.

    Hawaiian politician (1858–1931)
  9. 1773

    James Cook

    Captain James Cook leads the first expedition to sail south of the Antarctic Circle.

    British explorer and naval
  10. 1377

    Pope Gregory XI

    Pope Gregory XI reaches Rome, after deciding to move the Papacy back to Rome from Avignon.

    Head of the Catholic
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Famous birthday twins

Born on January 17

Tabaré Vázquez

b. 1940

Uruguayan physician and politician, 39th President of Uruguay

Anita Borg

b. 1949

American computer scientist and academic

Michelle Obama

b. 1964

American lawyer and activist, 44th First Lady of the United States

Kipchoge Keino

b. 1940

Kenyan athlete

Dwyane Wade

b. 1982

American basketball player

Benjamin Franklin

b. 1706

American publisher, inventor, and politician, 6th President of Pennsylvania

Muhammad Ali

b. 1942

American boxer and activist

Jim Carrey

b. 1962

Canadian-American actor, comedian, and producer

Deaths

  • 2008Bobby Fischer, American chess player and author
  • 1947Pyotr Krasnov, Russian historian and general
  • 1942Walter von Reichenau, German field marshal
  • 1893Rutherford B. Hayes, American general, lawyer, and politician, 19th President of the United States
  • 1884Hermann Schlegel, German ornithologist and herpetologist
  • 395Theodosius I, Roman emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Anthony the Great
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Angelo Paoli
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Gamelbert of Michaelsbuch
  • —Christian feast day: Charles Gore (Church of England)
  • —Christian feast day: Jenaro Sánchez Delgadillo (one of Saints of the Cristero War)
  • —Christian feast day: Mildgyth
  • —Christian feast day: Our Lady of Pontmain
  • —Christian feast day: Sulpitius the Pious

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