✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 321st day of the year

November 17

A look at November 17 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Greg Rutherford and Louis XVIII, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♏ZodiacScorpio ◈BirthstoneTopaz ❀Birth flowerChrysanthemum
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2013

    Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363

    Fifty people are killed when Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 crashes at Kazan Airport, Russia.

    2013 aircraft accident in
  2. 2013

    Tornado outbreak of November 17, 2013

    A rare late-season tornado outbreak strikes the Midwest. Illinois and Indiana are most affected with tornado reports as far north as lower Michigan. In all around six dozen tornadoes touch down in approximately an 11-hour time period, including seven EF3 and two EF4 tornadoes.

    Natural disaster
  3. 2003

    Arnold Schwarzenegger

    Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's tenure as the governor of California begins.

    Austrian and American actor
  4. 1968

    BAC One-Eleven

    British European Airways introduces the BAC One-Eleven into commercial service.

    British short-range jet airliner
  5. 1950

    14th Dalai Lama

    Lhamo Dondrub is officially named the 14th Dalai Lama.

    Spiritual leader of Tibet
  6. 1947

    John Bardeen

    American scientists John Bardeen and Walter Houser Brattain observe the basic principles of the transistor, a key element for the electronics revolution of the 20th century.

    American physicist (1908–1991)
  7. 1869

    Egypt

    In Egypt, the Suez Canal, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, is inaugurated.

    Country in Northeast Africa
  8. 1831

    Ecuador

    Ecuador and Venezuela are separated from Gran Colombia.

    Country in South America
  9. 1796

    French Revolutionary Wars

    French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of the Bridge of Arcole: French forces defeat the Austrians in Italy.

    1792–1802 wars
  10. 1292

    John Balliol

    John Balliol becomes King of Scotland.

    King of Scots from
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Famous birthday twins

Born on November 17

Greg Rutherford

b. 1986

English long jumper

Louis XVIII

b. 1755

king of France

Bronzino

b. 1503

Italian painter

Douglas Shearer

b. 1899

Canadian-American engineer

John Boehner

b. 1949

American businessman and politician, 53rd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

Danny DeVito

b. 1944

American actor, director, and producer

Sima Guang

b. 1019

Chinese politician

Terry Branstad

b. 1946

American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 39th Governor of Iowa and U.S. Ambassador to China

Deaths

  • 2013Doris Lessing, British novelist, poet, playwright, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1968Mervyn Peake, English poet, author, and illustrator
  • 1917Auguste Rodin, French sculptor and illustrator
  • 1796Catherine the Great, of Russia
  • 1592John III of Sweden, King of Sweden from 1569 to 1592
  • 375Valentinian I, Roman emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Athens Polytechnic Uprising Remembrance Day (Greece)
  • —Christian feast days: Acisclus
  • —Christian feast days: Aignan of Orleans
  • —Christian feast days: Elizabeth of Hungary
  • —Christian feast days: Gennadius of Constantinople (Greek Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast days: Gregory of Tours (Roman Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast days: Gregory Thaumaturgus
  • —Christian feast days: Hilda of Whitby

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