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On This Day in History — February 17
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Highlights of February 17
- 2011 — Arab Spring: Bahraini security forces killed four protesters in a pre-dawn raid at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, while the "Day of Rage" took place in Libya with nationwide protests against Muammar Gaddafi's government. Read more
- 1996 — An earthquake with a moment magnitude of 8.2 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent) occurred in the New Guinea Trench, which generated a tsunami that killed 108 people. Read more
- 1978 — The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army carried out a bombing of a restaurant near Belfast, Northern Ireland, killing twelve people and injuring thirty others. Read more
- 1974 — A U.S. Army soldier stole a Bell UH-1 helicopter (pictured) and landed it on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. Read more
- 1964 — Gabonese military officers overthrew President Léon M'ba, but French forces, honouring a 1960 treaty, forcibly reinstated him two days later. Read more
- 1959 — Vanguard 2 (model pictured), the first weather satellite, was launched to measure cloud cover distribution. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The U.S. Navy began Operation Hailstone, a massive naval air and surface attack against the Japanese naval and air base at Chuuk Lagoon in the Caroline Islands. Read more
- 1913 — The Armory Show (commemorative button pictured), the first large modern-art exhibition in the United States, opened at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City. Read more
- 1904 — Italian composer Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly premiered at La Scala in Milan to poor reviews, forcing him to revise the opera. Read more
- 1894 — Rudolf Diesel's first working diesel engine ran for one minute. Read more
- 1859 — Cochinchina campaign: French Navy forces captured the Citadel of Saigon, defended by 1,000 Vietnamese soldiers of the Nguyễn dynasty. Read more
- 1838 — Great Trek: Zulu impis massacred about 532 Voortrekkers, Khoekhoe, and Basuto near present-day Weenen, South Africa. Read more
- 1815 — The United States ratifies the Treaty of Ghent – signed in late 1814 – formally ending the War of 1812. Read more
- 1621 — Myles Standish was elected the first commander of the militia of Plymouth Colony. Read more
Events
- 2016 — Military vehicles explode outside a Turkish Armed Forces barracks in Ankara, Turkey, killing at least 29 people and injuring 61 others. Read more
- 2015 — Eighteen people are killed and 78 injured in a stampede at a Mardi Gras parade in Haiti. Read more
- 2011 — Arab Spring: Libyan protests against Muammar Gaddafi's regime begin. Read more
- 2011 — Arab Spring: In Bahrain, security forces launch a deadly pre-dawn raid on protesters in Pearl Roundabout in Manama; the day is locally known as Bloody Thursday. Read more
- 2008 — Kosovo declares independence from Serbia. Read more
- 2006 — A massive mudslide occurs in Southern Leyte, Philippines; the official death toll is set at 1,126. Read more
- 1996 — In Philadelphia, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match. Read more
- 1996 — NASA's Discovery Program begins as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifts off on the first mission ever to orbit and land on an asteroid, 433 Eros. Read more
- 1996 — The 8.2 Mw Biak earthquake shakes the Papua province of eastern Indonesia with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). A large tsunami followed, leaving 166 people dead or missing and 423 injured. Read more
- 1995 — The Cenepa War between Peru and Ecuador ends on a ceasefire brokered by the UN. Read more
- 1992 — First Nagorno-Karabakh War: Armenian troops massacre more than 20 Azerbaijani civilians during the Capture of Garadaghly. Read more
- 1991 — Ryan International Airlines Flight 590 crashes during takeoff from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, killing both pilots, the aircraft's only occupants. Read more
- 1980 — First winter ascent of Mount Everest by Krzysztof Wielicki and Leszek Cichy. Read more
- 1979 — The Sino-Vietnamese War begins. Read more
- 1978 — The Troubles: The Provisional IRA detonates an incendiary bomb at the La Mon restaurant, near Belfast, killing 12 and seriously injuring 30 others, all Protestants. Read more
- 1974 — Robert K. Preston, a disgruntled U.S. Army private, buzzes the White House in a stolen helicopter. Read more
- 1972 — Cumulative sales of the Volkswagen Beetle exceed those of the Ford Model T. Read more
- 1970 — The family of Jeffrey R. MacDonald, United States Army captain, is found murdered in their home in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, US. Eventually, MacDonald was charged with and convicted of the murder of his pregnant wife and two daughters. Read more
- 1969 — American aquanaut Berry L. Cannon dies of carbon dioxide poisoning while attempting to repair a leak in the SEALAB III underwater habitat. The SEALAB project was subsequently abandoned. Read more
- 1966 — Aeroflot Flight 065 crashes during take-off from Sheremetyevo International Airport, killing 21. Read more
- 1965 — Project Ranger: The Ranger 8 probe launches on its mission to photograph the Mare Tranquillitatis region of the Moon in preparation for the crewed Apollo missions. Mare Tranquillitatis or the "Sea of Tranquility" would become the site chosen for the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Read more
- 1964 — In Wesberry v. Sanders the Supreme Court of the United States rules that congressional districts have to be approximately equal in population. Read more
- 1964 — Gabonese president Léon M'ba is toppled by a coup and his rival, Jean-Hilaire Aubame, is installed in his place. Read more
- 1959 — Project Vanguard: Vanguard 2: The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribution. Read more
- 1959 — A Turkish Airlines Vickers Viscount crashes near Gatwick Airport, killing 14; Turkish prime minister Adnan Menderes survives the crash. Read more
- 1949 — Chaim Weizmann begins his term as the first President of Israel. Read more
- 1948 — The Al-Waziri coup briefly ousts the ruling Hamidaddin dynasty of Yemen; Imam Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din is killed. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok begins. The battle ends in an American victory on February 22. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Operation Hailstone begins: U.S. naval air, surface and submarine attack against Truk Lagoon, Japan's main base in the central Pacific, in support of the Eniwetok invasion. Read more
- 1919 — The Ukrainian People's Republic asks the Entente and the United States for help fighting the Bolsheviks. Read more
- 1913 — The Armory Show opens in New York City, displaying works of artists who subsequently become some of the most influential painters of the early 20th century. Read more
- 1905 — Russian Revolution of 1905: Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia is assassinated in the Moscow Kremlin by Socialist Revolutionary Ivan Kalyayev. Read more
- 1865 — American Civil War: Columbia, South Carolina, is burned as Confederate forces flee from advancing Union forces. Read more
- 1864 — American Civil War: The H. L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic. Read more
- 1863 — A group of citizens of Geneva found an International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, which later became known as the International Committee of the Red Cross. Read more
- 1859 — Cochinchina Campaign: The French Navy captures the Citadel of Saigon, a fortress manned by 1,000 Nguyễn dynasty soldiers, en route to conquering Saigon and other regions of southern Viet Nam. Read more
- 1854 — The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the Orange Free State. Read more
- 1838 — In the Weenen massacre, hundreds of Voortrekkers along the Blaukraans River, Natal are killed by Zulus. Read more
- 1819 — The United States House of Representatives passes the Missouri Compromise for the first time. Read more
- 1814 — War of the Sixth Coalition: The Battle of Mormant. Read more
- 1801 — United States presidential election: A tie in the Electoral College between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr is resolved when Jefferson is elected President of the United States and Burr Vice President by the United States House of Representatives. Read more
- 1753 — In Sweden, February 17 is followed by March 1 as the country moves from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Read more
- 1739 — The Battle of Vasai commences as the Marathas move to invade Portuguese-occupied territory. Read more
- 1676 — Sixteen men of Pascual de Iriate's expedition are lost at Evangelistas Islets at the western end of the Strait of Magellan. Read more
- 1674 — An earthquake strikes the Indonesian island of Ambon. It triggers a 100 m (330 ft) megatsunami which drowns over 2,300 people. Read more
- 1621 — Myles Standish is appointed as first military commander of the English Plymouth Colony in North America. Read more
- 1616 — Nurhaci proclaims himself Khan of the Later Jin, precursor to the Qing Dynasty. Read more
- 1600 — On his way to be burned at the stake for heresy, at Campo de' Fiori in Rome, the philosopher Giordano Bruno has a wooden vise put on his tongue to prevent him continuing to speak. Read more
- 1500 — Duke Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein and King John of Denmark attempt to subdue the peasantry of Dithmarschen, Denmark, in the Battle of Hemmingstedt. Read more
- 1411 — Following the successful campaigns during the Ottoman Interregnum, Musa Çelebi, one of the sons of Bayezid I, becomes Sultan of the Ottoman Empire with the support of Mircea I of Wallachia. Read more
- 1370 — Northern Crusades: Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Teutonic Knights meet in the Battle of Rudau. Read more
Born on February 17
- 1998 — Devin White, American football player Read more
- 1997 — Gaetano Castrovilli, Italian footballer Read more
- 1996 — Sebastian Aho, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1996 — Sasha Pieterse, South African-American actress and singer-songwriter Read more
- 1995 — Madison Keys, American tennis player Read more
- 1994 — Mason Jobst, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1993 — Marc Márquez, Spanish motorcycle racer Read more
- 1992 — Meaghan Martin, American actress and singer Read more
- 1991 — Phil Pressey, American basketball player and coach Read more
- 1991 — Ed Sheeran, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Read more
- 1991 — Jeremy Allen White, American actor Read more
- 1991 — Bonnie Wright, English actress, filmmaker, and activist Read more
- 1990 — Marianne St-Gelais, Canadian speed skater Read more
- 1990 — Edin Višća, Bosnian footballer Read more
- 1989 — Rebecca Adlington, English swimmer Read more
- 1989 — Chord Overstreet, American actor and singer Read more
- 1988 — Michael Frolík, Czech ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Case Keenum, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Vasyl Lomachenko, Ukrainian boxer Read more
- 1987 — Ísis Valverde, Brazilian actress Read more
- 1986 — Brett Kern, American football player Read more
- 1985 — Anders Jacobsen, Norwegian ski jumper Read more
- 1984 — AB de Villiers, South African cricketer Read more
- 1984 — Marcin Gortat, Polish basketball player Read more
- 1984 — Katie Hill, Australian 3.0 point wheelchair basketball player Read more
- 1982 — Adriano, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1982 — Brian Bruney, American baseball player Read more
- 1981 — Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor, director, and producer Read more
- 1981 — Paris Hilton, American model, media personality, actress, singer, DJ, author and businesswoman Read more
- 1981 — Pontus Segerström, Swedish footballer (died 2014) Read more
- 1980 — Al Harrington, American basketball player Read more
- 1980 — Jason Ritter, American actor Read more
- 1980 — Klemi Saban, Israeli footballer Read more
- 1979 — Conrad Ricamora, American actor Read more
- 1979 — Josh Willingham, American baseball player Read more
- 1978 — Rory Kinnear, English actor and playwright Read more
- 1976 — Kelly Carlson, American actress and model Read more
- 1975 — Kaspars Astašenko, Latvian ice hockey player (died 2012) Read more
- 1975 — Václav Prospal, Czech ice hockey player Read more
- 1974 — Kaoru, Japanese guitarist, songwriter, and producer Read more
Died on February 17
- 2026 — Jesse Jackson, American civil rights leader, activist, and politician (born 1941) Read more
- 2026 — Shinya Yamada, Japanese musician (born 1970) Read more
- 2025 — Paquita la del Barrio, Mexican singer, songwriter and actress (born 1947) Read more
- 2025 — Frits Bolkestein, Dutch politician (born 1933) Read more
- 2025 — Rick Buckler, English drummer, songwriter, and producer (born 1955) Read more
- 2025 — James Harrison, Australian blood plasma donor (born 1936) Read more
- 2024 — Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Sri Lankan politician (born 1941) Read more
- 2024 — Josette Molland, WWII French Resistance member and artist (born 1923) Read more
- 2021 — Rush Limbaugh, American talk show host and author (born 1951) Read more
- 2021 — Seif Sharif Hamad, Tanzanian politician (born 1943) Read more
- 2017 — Robert H. Michel, American politician (born 1923) Read more
- 2017 — Michael Novak, American Roman Catholic theologian (born 1933) Read more
- 2016 — Andy Ganteaume, Trinidadian cricketer (born 1921) Read more
- 2016 — Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, Egyptian journalist (born 1923) Read more
- 2016 — Claude Jeancolas, French historian, author, and journalist (born 1949) Read more
- 2016 — Tony Phillips, American baseball player (born 1959) Read more
- 2016 — Andrzej Żuławski, Polish film director (born 1940) Read more
- 2015 — John Barrow, American-Canadian football player and manager (born 1935) Read more
- 2015 — Cathy Ubels-Veen, Dutch politician (born 1928) Read more
- 2015 — Liu Yudi, Chinese general and pilot (born 1923) Read more
- 2014 — Bob Casale, American guitarist, keyboard player, and producer (born 1952) Read more
- 2014 — Peter Florin, German politician and diplomat, President of the United Nations General Assembly (born 1921) Read more
- 2014 — Wayne Smith, Jamaican singer (born 1965) Read more
- 2013 — Richard Briers, English actor (born 1934) Read more
- 2013 — Shmulik Kraus, Israeli singer-songwriter and actor (born 1935) Read more
- 2013 — Sophie Kurys, American baseball player (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Mindy McCready, American singer-songwriter (born 1975) Read more
- 2012 — Robert Carr, English engineer and politician, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (born 1916) Read more
- 2012 — Michael Davis, American singer-songwriter and bass player (born 1943) Read more
- 2012 — Nicolaas Govert de Bruijn, Dutch mathematician and theorist (born 1918) Read more
- 2012 — Ulric Neisser, German-American psychologist and academic (born 1928) Read more
- 2010 — Kathryn Grayson, American actress and singer (born 1922) Read more
- 2009 — Conchita Cintrón, Chilean bullfighter and journalist (born 1922) Read more
- 2006 — Ray Barretto, American drummer (born 1929) Read more
- 2005 — Dan O'Herlihy, Irish-American actor (born 1919) Read more
- 2005 — Omar Sívori, Argentinian footballer and manager (born 1935) Read more
- 2004 — José López Portillo, Mexican lawyer and politician, 51st President of Mexico (born 1920) Read more
- 2003 — Steve Bechler, American baseball player (born 1979) Read more
- 1998 — Ernst Jünger, German soldier, philosopher, and author (born 1895) Read more
- 1994 — Randy Shilts, American journalist and author (born 1951) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Seven Founders of the Servite Order
Alexis Falconieri; Christian feast day:
Constabilis; Christian feast day:
Donatus, Romulus, Secundian, and Companions; Christian feast day:
Evermode of Ratzeburg; Christian feast day:
Fintan of Clonenagh; Christian feast day:
Janani Luwum (Anglican Communion); Christian feast day:
Lommán of Trim; Christian feast day:
Mesrop Mashtots; Christian feast day:
February 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Independence Day, celebrates the independence declaration of Kosovo in 2008, still partially recognized.; Revolution Day (Libya)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “February 17”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.