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On This Day in History — July 17
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Highlights of July 17
- 2014 — Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. Read more
- 2007 — TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overran the runway at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, killing 199 people. Read more
- 1996 — TWA Flight 800 exploded in mid-air and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York. Read more
- 1994 — Brazil won the FIFA World Cup final against Italy 3–2 on penalties, following a 0–0 draw after extra time. Read more
- 1992 — The Manchester Metrolink, the first modern street-running light-rail system in the United Kingdom, was officially opened. Read more
- 1968 — Led by Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr (pictured), the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party overthrew Iraqi president Abdul Rahman Arif in a bloodless coup. Read more
- 1948 — In Olympia, Greece, the Summer Olympics torch relay, nicknamed the "relay of peace", began. Read more
- 1944 — Laden with munitions for World War II, two ships exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California, killing 320 people and injuring more than 400 others. Read more
- 1936 — Nationalist military officers launch a coup d'état against the Spanish Republic, beginning the Spanish Civil War Read more
- 1918 — RMS Carpathia, which had rescued survivors of the 1912 Titanic sinking, was sunk by a German U-boat with the loss of five crew. Read more
- 1918 — Russian Revolution: Tsar Nicholas II and his family (pictured) were murdered by Bolsheviks at Yekaterinburg. Read more
- 1863 — The New Zealand Wars resumed as British forces led by General Duncan Cameron began the invasion of the Waikato. Read more
- 1862 — The garrotting and robbery of James Pilkington, a British member of Parliament, led to a moral panic in London. Read more
- 1850 — William Cranch Bond and John Adams Whipple took a daguerreotype of Vega, the first astrophotograph of a star other than the Sun. Read more
- 1771 — Dene men who were acting as guides to Samuel Hearne on his exploration of the Coppermine River in present-day Nunavut, Canada, massacred a group of about twenty Copper Inuit. Read more
- 1453 — The Battle of Castillon, the last engagement of the Hundred Years' War, ended with the English losing all holdings in France except the Pale of Calais. Read more
Events
- 2015 — At least 120 people are killed and 130 injured by a suicide bombing in Diyala Governorate, Iraq. Read more
- 2014 — Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777, crashes near the border of Ukraine and Russia after being shot down. All 298 people on board are killed. Read more
- 2014 — A French regional train on the Pau-Bayonne line crashes into a high-speed train near the town of Denguin, resulting in at least 25 injuries. Read more
- 2014 — Eric Garner is killed by police officer Daniel Pantaleo in New York City, after the latter put him in a prohibited chokehold while arresting him. Read more
- 2007 — TAM Airlines Flight 3054, an Airbus A320, crashes into a warehouse after landing too fast and missing the end of the São Paulo–Congonhas Airport runway, killing 199 people. Read more
- 2006 — The 7.7 Mw Pangandaran tsunami earthquake severely affects the Indonesian island of Java, killing 668 people, and leaving more than 9,000 injured. Read more
- 2000 — During approach to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport, Alliance Air Flight 7412 suddenly crashes into a residential neighborhood in Patna, India, killing 60 people. Read more
- 1998 — The 7.0 Mw Papua New Guinea earthquake triggers a tsunami that destroys ten villages in Papua New Guinea, killing up to 2,700 people, and leaving several thousand injured. Read more
- 1998 — A diplomatic conference adopts the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, establishing the permanent international court in The Hague, to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. Read more
- 1997 — After takeoff from Husein Sastranegara International Airport, Sempati Air Flight 304 crashes into a residential neighborhood in Bandung, killing 28 people. Read more
- 1996 — TWA Flight 800: Off the coast of Long Island, New York, a Paris-bound TWA Boeing 747 explodes, killing all 230 on board. Read more
- 1994 — Brazil win their fourth World Cup title, defeating Italy 3–2 on penalties. Read more
- 1981 — A structural failure leads to the collapse of a walkway at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Missouri, killing 114 people and injuring more than 200. Read more
- 1976 — East Timor is annexed and becomes the 27th province of Indonesia. Read more
- 1976 — The opening of the Summer Olympics in Montreal is marred by 25 African teams boycotting the games because of New Zealand's participation. Contrary to rulings by other international sports organizations, the IOC had declined to exclude New Zealand because of their participation in South African sporting events during apartheid. Read more
- 1975 — Apollo–Soyuz Test Project: An American Apollo and a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft dock with each other in orbit marking the first such link-up between spacecraft from the two nations. Read more
- 1973 — King Mohammed Zahir Shah of Afghanistan, while having surgery in Italy, is deposed by his cousin Mohammed Daoud Khan. Read more
- 1968 — Abdul Rahman Arif is overthrown and the Ba'ath Party is installed as the governing power in Iraq with Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr as the new Iraqi President. Read more
- 1962 — Nuclear weapons testing: The "Small Boy" test shot Little Feller I becomes the last atmospheric test detonation at the Nevada National Security Site. Read more
- 1954 — First Indochina War: Viet Minh troops successfully ambush the armoured French column 'G.M. 42' in the Battle of Chu Dreh Pass in the Central Highlands. It is the last battle of the war. Read more
- 1953 — The largest number of United States midshipman casualties in a single event results from an aircraft crash in Florida, killing 44. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The main three leaders of the Allied nations, Winston Churchill, Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin, hold the Potsdam Conference in the German city of Potsdam to decide the future of a defeated Germany. Read more
- 1944 — Port Chicago disaster: Near the San Francisco Bay, two ships laden with ammunition for the war explode in Port Chicago, California, killing 320. Read more
- 1938 — Douglas Corrigan takes off from Brooklyn to fly the "wrong way" to Ireland and becomes known as "Wrong Way" Corrigan. Read more
- 1936 — Spanish Civil War: An Armed Forces rebellion against the recently elected leftist Popular Front government of Spain starts the civil war. Read more
- 1932 — Altona Bloody Sunday: A riot between the Nazi Party paramilitary forces, the SS and SA, and the German Communist Party ensues. Read more
- 1919 — The form of government in the Republic of Finland is officially confirmed with the enactment of the Constitution of Finland. For this reason, July 17 is known as the Day of Democracy (Kansanvallan päivä) in Finland. Read more
- 1918 — Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his immediate family and retainers are executed by Bolshevik Chekists at the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Read more
- 1918 — The RMS Carpathia is sunk off Ireland by the German SM U-55; five lives are lost. Read more
- 1899 — NEC Corporation is organized as the first Japanese joint venture with foreign capital. Read more
- 1867 — Harvard School of Dental Medicine is established in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the first dental school in the U.S. that is affiliated with a university. Read more
- 1850 — Vega becomes the first star (other than the Sun) to be photographed. Read more
- 1821 — The Kingdom of Spain cedes the territory of Florida to the United States. Read more
- 1794 — The 16 Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne are executed ten days prior to the end of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror. Read more
- 1791 — Members of the French National Guard under the command of General Lafayette open fire on a crowd of radical Jacobins at the Champ de Mars, Paris, during the French Revolution, killing scores of people. Read more
- 1771 — Bloody Falls massacre: Chipewyan chief Matonabbee, traveling as the guide to Samuel Hearne on his Arctic overland journey, massacres a group of unsuspecting Inuit. Read more
- 1762 — Former emperor Peter III of Russia is murdered. Read more
- 1717 — King George I of Great Britain sails down the River Thames with a barge of 50 musicians, where George Frideric Handel's Water Music is premiered. Read more
- 1489 — Sikandar Lodi succeeds Bahlul Khan Lodi as Sultan of Delhi. Read more
- 1453 — Battle of Castillon: The last battle of the Hundred Years' War, the French under Jean Bureau defeat the English under the Earl of Shrewsbury, who is killed in the battle in Gascony. Read more
- 1429 — Hundred Years' War: Charles VII of France is crowned the King of France in the Reims Cathedral after a successful campaign by Joan of Arc. Read more
- 1402 — Zhu Di, better known by his era name as the Yongle Emperor, assumes the throne over the Ming dynasty of China. Read more
- 1203 — The Fourth Crusade assaults Constantinople. The Byzantine emperor Alexios III Angelos flees from his capital into exile. Read more
- 1048 — Damasus II is elected pope, and dies 23 days later. Read more
- 1048 — Four year-old Henry IV is crowned as king of Germany in Aachen. Read more
- 561 — Consecration of Pope John III following the death of Pope Pelagius I earlier that year. Read more
- 180 — Twelve inhabitants of Scillium (near Kasserine, modern-day Tunisia) in North Africa are executed for being Christians. This is the earliest record of Christianity in that part of the world. Read more
Born on July 17
- 2005 — Connor Bedard, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 2002 — Jordan Lawlar, American baseball player Read more
- 1998 — Rosana Serrano, Cuban rower Read more
- 1997 — OG Anunoby, British basketball player Read more
- 1996 — Wonwoo, South Korean rapper and singer Read more
- 1996 — Grace Caroline Currey, American actress Read more
- 1994 — Kali Uchis, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1992 — Billie Lourd, American actress Read more
- 1992 — Tatu Sinisalo, Finnish actor Read more
- 1992 — Nick Bjugstad, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1987 — Darius Boyd, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1987 — Jeremih, American singer, songwriter, and record producer Read more
- 1986 — DeAngelo Smith, American football player Read more
- 1985 — Loui Eriksson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1985 — Neil McGregor, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1985 — Tom Cullen, Welsh actor and director Read more
- 1983 — Adam Lind, American baseball player Read more
- 1982 — Omari Banks, Anguillan cricketer Read more
- 1982 — Stefania Spampinato, Italian actress Read more
- 1981 — Hely Ollarves, Venezuelan runner Read more
- 1980 — Javier Camuñas, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1980 — Brett Goldstein, British actor, comedian and writer Read more
- 1980 — Ryan Miller, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1979 — Mike Vogel, American actor Read more
- 1978 — Ricardo Arona, Brazilian mixed martial artist Read more
- 1978 — Jason Jennings, American baseball player Read more
- 1978 — Justine Triet, French film director and screenwriter Read more
- 1977 — Andrew Downton, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1977 — Leif Hoste, Belgian cyclist Read more
- 1977 — Marc Savard, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1976 — Luke Bryan, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1976 — Gino D'Acampo, Italian chef and author Read more
- 1976 — Dagmara Domińczyk, Polish-American actress Read more
- 1976 — Marcos Senna, Brazilian-Spanish footballer Read more
- 1976 — Anders Svensson, Swedish footballer and sportscaster Read more
- 1976 — Brian K. Vaughan, American comic book and television writer Read more
- 1976 — Eric Winter, American actor Read more
- 1975 — Andre Adams, New Zealand cricketer Read more
- 1975 — Elena Anaya, Spanish actress Read more
Died on July 17
- 2025 — Felix Baumgartner, Austrian daredevil (born 1969) Read more
- 2025 — Alan Bergman, American songwriter (born 1925) Read more
- 2025 — Joanna Kołaczkowska, Polish cabaret performer (born 1966) Read more
- 2024 — Cheng Pei-pei, Chinese actress (born 1946) Read more
- 2024 — Mary Gibby, British botanist and professor (born 1949) Read more
- 2024 — Bernice Johnson Reagon, American singer, songwriter and scholar (born 1942) Read more
- 2024 — Pat Williams, American basketball player (born 1940) Read more
- 2020 — John Lewis, American civil rights activist and politician (born 1940) Read more
- 2020 — Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya, Russian-Australian pair skater (born 2000) Read more
- 2019 — Marie Sophie Hingst, German historian and blogger who falsely claimed to be descended from Holocaust survivors Read more
- 2015 — Jules Bianchi, French racing driver (born 1989) Read more
- 2015 — Owen Chadwick, English rugby player, historian, and academic (born 1916) Read more
- 2014 — Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 victims: Read more
- 2014 — Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 victims: Read more
- 2014 — Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 victims: Read more
- 2014 — Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 victims: Read more
- 2014 — Henry Hartsfield, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (born 1933) Read more
- 2014 — Otto Piene, German sculptor and academic (born 1928) Read more
- 2014 — Elaine Stritch, American actress and singer (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Henri Alleg, English-French journalist and author (born 1921) Read more
- 2013 — Vincenzo Cerami, Italian screenwriter and producer (born 1940) Read more
- 2013 — David White, Scottish footballer and manager (born 1933) Read more
- 2012 — İlhan Mimaroğlu, Turkish-American composer and producer (born 1926) Read more
- 2012 — Marsha Singh, Indian-English politician (born 1954) Read more
- 2011 — David Ngoombujarra, Australian actor (born 1967) Read more
- 2011 — Taiji Sawada, Japanese musician (born 1966) Read more
- 2009 — Walter Cronkite, American journalist and actor (born 1916) Read more
- 2009 — Leszek Kołakowski, Polish historian and philosopher (born 1927) Read more
- 2007 — Júlio Redecker, Brazilian politician (born 1956) Read more
- 2006 — Mickey Spillane, American crime novelist (born 1918) Read more
- 2005 — Geraldine Fitzgerald, Irish-American actress (born 1913) Read more
- 2005 — Edward Heath, English colonel and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (born 1916) Read more
- 2003 — David Kelly, Welsh weapons inspector (born 1944) Read more
- 2003 — Rosalyn Tureck, American pianist and harpsichord player (born 1914) Read more
- 2003 — Walter Zapp, Latvian-Swiss inventor, invented the Minox (born 1905) Read more
- 2002 — Joseph Luns, Dutch politician and Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1911) Read more
- 2001 — Katharine Graham, American publisher (born 1917) Read more
- 1998 — Lillian Hoban, American author and illustrator (born 1925) Read more
- 1996 — Chas Chandler, English bass player and producer (born 1938) Read more
- 1995 — Juan Manuel Fangio, Argentinian race car driver (born 1911) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Alexius of Rome (Western Church); Christian feast day:
Andrew Zorard; Christian feast day:
Cynehelm; Christian feast day:
Cynllo; Christian feast day:
Inácio de Azevedo; Christian feast day:
Jadwiga of Poland; Christian feast day:
Magnus Felix Ennodius; Christian feast day:
Marcellina; Christian feast day:
Martyrs of Compiègne; Christian feast day:
Blessed Pavel Peter Gojdič (Greek Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
Pope Leo IV; Christian feast day:
Romanov sainthood (Russian Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Speratus and companions; Christian feast day:
William White (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day:
July 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Constitution Day (South Korea); Gion Matsuri (Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto); Independence Day (Slovakia); International Firgun Day (International); King's Birthday (Lesotho); U Tirot Sing Day (Meghalaya, India); World Day for International Justice (International); World Emoji Day (International)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “July 17”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.