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On This Day · The 290th day of the year

October 17

A look at October 17 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Jared Tallent and Eminem, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♎ZodiacLibra ◈BirthstoneOpal ❀Birth flowerMarigold
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2001

    Rehavam Ze'evi

    Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi is assassinated by Hamdi Quran, a member of the PFLP, thus becoming the highest-ranking Israeli to be killed by a Palestinian.

    Israeli politician (1926–2001)
  2. 2000

    Hatfield rail crash

    The Hatfield rail crash leads to the collapse of Railtrack.

    2000 rail accident in
  3. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: The USS Kearny becomes the first U.S. Navy vessel to be torpedoed by a U-boat.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1933

    Albert Einstein

    Albert Einstein flees Nazi Germany and moves to the United States.

    German-born theoretical physicist (1879–1955)
  5. 1931

    Al Capone

    Al Capone is convicted of income tax evasion.

    American gangster and businessman
  6. 1860

    The Open Championship

    First The Open Championship (referred to in North America as the British Open).

    Golf tournament held in
  7. 1814

    London Beer Flood

    Eight people die in the London Beer Flood.

    1814 brewery disaster in
  8. 1777

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: British General John Burgoyne surrenders his army at Saratoga, New York.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  9. 1771

    Ascanio in Alba

    Premiere in Milan of the opera Ascanio in Alba, composed by Mozart at age 15.

    1771 pastoral opera by
  10. 1660

    List of regicides of Charles I of England

    The nine regicides who signed the death warrant of Charles I of England are hanged, drawn and quartered.

    History
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Famous birthday twins

Born on October 17

Jared Tallent

b. 1984

Australian race walker

Eminem

b. 1972

American rapper, producer, and actor

Kimi Räikkönen

b. 1979

Finnish race car driver

Josep Puig i Cadafalch

b. 1867

Catalan architect who designed the Casa Martí

Dmitry Pozharsky

b. 1577

Russian prince

William Anders

b. 1933

Hong Kong-American general and astronaut

Burton (musician)

b. 1974

Finnish keyboard player

Mae Jemison

b. 1956

American physician, academic, and astronaut

Deaths

  • 2012Stanford R. Ovshinsky, American scientist and businessman, co-founded Energy Conversion Devices
  • 2007Suzy Covey, American scholar and academic
  • 2001Rehavam Ze'evi, Israeli historian, general, and politician, Tourism Minister of Israel
  • 1978Giovanni Gronchi, Italian educator, soldier, and politician, 3rd President of the Italian Republic
  • 1849Frédéric Chopin, Polish pianist and composer
  • 33AD 33, Roman wife of Germanicus (born 14 BC)

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Andrew of Crete
  • —Christian feast day: Anstrudis
  • —Christian feast day: Catervus
  • —Christian feast day: Ethelred and Ethelberht
  • —Christian feast day: Florentius of Orange
  • —Christian feast day: François-Isidore Gagelin (one of Vietnamese Martyrs)
  • —Christian feast day: Hosea
  • —Christian feast day: Ignatius of Antioch

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