On This Day in History — March 17

Highlights of March 17

• 2011 — First Libyan Civil War: The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, authorizing military intervention in Libya to protect civilians. Read more
• 2004 — Unrest in Kosovo broke out, resulting in the deaths of 28, the wounding of more than 600 others, and the destruction of several Serb Orthodox churches and shrines. Read more
• 2000 — Hundreds of followers of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, a Ugandan sect, died in a mass murder committed by its leaders. Read more
• 1988 — Eritrean War of Independence: Eritrean People's Liberation Front troops encircled Ethiopian forces in the Battle of Afabet, gaining a decisive victory three days later. Read more
• 1979 — The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the Scottish Borders collapsed during refurbishing construction, killing two workers, and leading to the abandonment of the tunnel. Read more
• 1973 — Slava Veder took his Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph Burst of Joy, which came to symbolize the end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Read more
• 1968 — Six thousand sheep were killed on ranches near Dugway Proving Ground in Utah as a result of the U.S. Army spraying a nerve agent. Read more
• 1963 — An eruption of Mount Agung on Bali, Indonesia, killed at least 1,100 people. Read more
• 1957 — A plane crash on the slopes of Mount Manunggal killed Philippine president Ramon Magsaysay and 24 others. Read more
• 1955 — Ice hockey fans in Montreal rioted to protest the suspension of Montreal Canadiens star Maurice Richard for hitting an official. Read more
• 1950 — Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory announced the synthesis of californium, a radioactive transuranium element. Read more
• 1942 — The Holocaust: The first mass killings of Jews began at Belzec extermination camp in occupied Poland, the first of the Operation Reinhard camps to begin operation. Read more
• 1917 — World War I: Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster led a force to rescue 92 prisoners of war from Bir Hakeim, killing the Senussi guards and their families. Read more
• 1902 — The Dorchester Heights Monument , memorializing the siege of Boston during the American Revolutionary War, was dedicated. Read more
• 1891 — The transatlantic steamship Utopia accidentally collided with the battleship HMS Anson in the Bay of Gibraltar, sinking in less than twenty minutes and killing 562. Read more
• 1864 — Second Schleswig War: In an attempt to end a Danish blockade, Eduard von Jachmann led a Prussian squadron in an attack against a Danish fleet led by Edvard van Dockum. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: The 11‑month Siege of Boston ended with the evacuation of the city's British garrison (depicted). Read more
• 1677 — Franco-Dutch War: France captured the town of Valenciennes in the Spanish Netherlands. Read more
• 1452 — Reconquista: Combined Castilian and Murcian forces defeated the Emirate of Granada at the Battle of Los Alporchones around the city of Lorca. Read more
• 1337 — Edward the Black Prince was created Duke of Cornwall, the first English dukedom. Read more
• 455 — After arranging for the assassination of Valentinian III, Petronius Maximus secured the throne of the Western Roman Empire, only to be killed 11 weeks later during the sack of Rome. Read more

Events

• 2016 — Rojava conflict: At a conference in Rmelan, the Movement for a Democratic Society declares the establishment of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria. Read more
• 2004 — Unrest in Kosovo: More than 22 are killed and 200 wounded. Thirty-five Serbian Orthodox shrines in Kosovo and two mosques in Serbia are destroyed. Read more
• 2003 — Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council, Robin Cook, resigns from the British Cabinet in disagreement with government plans for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Read more
• 2000 — Five hundred and thirty members of the Ugandan cult Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God die in a fire, considered to be a mass murder or suicide orchestrated by leaders of the cult. Elsewhere another 248 members are later found dead. Read more
• 1992 — Israeli Embassy attack in Buenos Aires: Car bomb attack kills 29 and injures 242. Read more
• 1992 — A referendum to end apartheid in South Africa is passed 68.7% to 31.2%. Read more
• 1988 — A Colombian Boeing 727 jetliner, Avianca Flight 410, crashes into a mountainside near the Venezuelan border killing 143. Read more
• 1988 — Eritrean War of Independence: The Nadew Command, an Ethiopian army corps in Eritrea, is attacked on three sides by military units of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front in the opening action of the Battle of Afabet. Read more
• 1985 — Serial killer Richard Ramirez, aka the "Night Stalker", commits the first two murders in his Los Angeles murder spree. Read more
• 1979 — The Penmanshiel Tunnel collapses during engineering works, killing two workers. Read more
• 1979 — Aeroflot Flight 1691 crashes on approach to Vnukovo International Airport, killing 58. Read more
• 1973 — The Pulitzer Prize–winning photograph Burst of Joy is taken, depicting a former prisoner of war being reunited with his family, which came to symbolize the end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Read more
• 1969 — Golda Meir becomes the first female Prime Minister of Israel. Read more
• 1968 — As a result of nerve gas testing by the U.S. Army Chemical Corps in Skull Valley, Utah, over 6,000 sheep are found dead. Read more
• 1966 — Off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean, the DSV Alvin submarine finds a missing American hydrogen bomb. Read more
• 1963 — Mount Agung erupts on Bali killing more than 1,100 people. Read more
• 1962 — A Clockwork Orange, a British dystopian novel by Anthony Burgess, is published. Read more
• 1960 — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the National Security Council directive on the anti-Cuban covert action program that will ultimately lead to the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Read more
• 1960 — Northwest Airlines Flight 710 explodes and crashes near Cannelton, Indiana, killing 63. Read more
• 1958 — The United States launches the first solar-powered satellite, which is also the first satellite to achieve a long-term orbit. Read more
• 1957 — A plane crash in Cebu, Philippines kills Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay and 24 others. Read more
• 1950 — Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley announce the creation of element 98, which they name "californium". Read more
• 1948 — Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Brussels, a precursor to the North Atlantic Treaty establishing NATO. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The Ludendorff Bridge in Remagen, Germany, collapses, ten days after its capture. Read more
• 1942 — Holocaust: The first Jews from the Lvov Ghetto are gassed at the Belzec death camp in what is today eastern Poland. Read more
• 1921 — The Second Polish Republic adopts the March Constitution. Read more
• 1891 — SS Utopia collides with HMS Anson in the Bay of Gibraltar and sinks, killing 562 of the 880 passengers on board. Read more
• 1862 — The first railway line of Finland between cities of Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, called Päärata, is officially opened. Read more
• 1861 — The Kingdom of Italy is proclaimed. Read more
• 1860 — The First Taranaki War begins in Taranaki, New Zealand, a major phase of the New Zealand Wars. Read more
• 1842 — The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo is formally organized with Emma Smith as president. Read more
• 1824 — The Anglo-Dutch Treaty is signed in London, dividing the Malay archipelago. As a result, the Malay Peninsula is dominated by the British, while Sumatra and Java and surrounding areas are dominated by the Dutch. Read more
• 1805 — The Italian Republic, with Napoleon as president, becomes the Kingdom of Italy, with Napoleon as King of Italy. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: The British Army evacuates Boston, ending the Siege of Boston, after George Washington and Henry Knox place artillery in positions overlooking the city. Read more
• 1400 — Turko-Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus. Read more
• 1337 — Edward the Black Prince is made Duke of Cornwall, the first duchy in England. Read more
• 455 — Petronius Maximus becomes, with support of the Roman Senate, emperor of the Western Roman Empire; he forces Licinia Eudoxia, the widow of his predecessor, Valentinian III, to marry him. Read more
• 180 — Commodus becomes sole emperor of the Roman Empire at the age of eighteen, following the death of his father, Marcus Aurelius. Read more
• 45 BC — In his last victory, Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger in the Battle of Munda. Read more

Born on March 17

• 2001 — Pietro Pellegri, Italian footballer Read more
• 1998 — Brandon Aiyuk, American football player Read more
• 1997 — Katie Ledecky, American swimmer Read more
• 1997 — Daniel Sprong, Dutch ice hockey player Read more
• 1995 — Claressa Shields, American boxer and mixed martial artist Read more
• 1994 — DeForest Buckner, American football player Read more
• 1994 — Terry Rozier, American basketball player Read more
• 1994 — Ivan Provedel, Italian footballer Read more
• 1994 — Marcel Sabitzer, Austrian footballer Read more
• 1993 — Matteo Bianchetti, Italian footballer Read more
• 1993 — Rhys Hoskins, American baseball player Read more
• 1993 — Yao Yuanjun, Chinese Border police officer (died 2011) Read more
• 1992 — John Boyega, British actor and producer Read more
• 1992 — Patrick Cantlay, American golfer Read more
• 1992 — Yeltsin Tejeda, Costa Rican footballer Read more
• 1991 — Sergey Kalinin, Russian ice hockey player Read more
• 1991 — Cordarrelle Patterson, American football player Read more
• 1991 — Thomas Robinson, American-Lebanese basketball player Read more
• 1990 — Hozier, Irish musician Read more
• 1990 — Saina Nehwal, Indian badminton player Read more
• 1990 — Jean Segura, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1989 — Mikael Backlund, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
• 1989 — Shinji Kagawa, Japanese footballer Read more
• 1989 — Juan Lagares, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1989 — Harry Melling, English actor Read more
• 1988 — Rasmus Elm, Swedish footballer Read more
• 1988 — Fraser Forster, English footballer Read more
• 1988 — Grimes, Canadian musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and visual artist Read more
• 1988 — Brent Meuleman, Belgian politician Read more
• 1988 — Ryan White, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Federico Fazio, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1987 — Rob Kardashian, American television personality Read more
• 1987 — Carlos Lampe, Bolivian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Ryan Parent, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Bobby Ryan, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Emmanuel Sanders, American football player Read more
• 1986 — Chris Davis, American baseball player Read more
• 1986 — Edin Džeko, Bosnian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Miles Kane, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1986 — Jeremy Pargo, American basketball player Read more

Died on March 17

• 2025 — John Hemingway, Irish fighter pilot, last surviving Battle of Britain pilot (born 1919) Read more
• 2025 — Lee Shau-kee, Hong Kong real estate billionaire (born 1928) Read more
• 2023 — Lance Reddick, American actor (born 1962) Read more
• 2021 — John Magufuli, the fifth President of Tanzania (born 1959) Read more
• 2018 — Mike MacDonald, Canadian comedian (born 1954) Read more
• 2018 — Phan Văn Khải, the fifth Prime Minister of Vietnam (born 1933) Read more
• 2016 — Meir Dagan, Israeli general (born 1945) Read more
• 2016 — Zoltán Kamondi, Hungarian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1960) Read more
• 2015 — Frank Perris, Canadian motorcycle racer (born 1931) Read more
• 2014 — Marek Galiński, Polish cyclist (born 1974) Read more
• 2014 — Joseph Kerman, American musicologist and critic (born 1924) Read more
• 2014 — Rachel Lambert Mellon, American gardener, philanthropist, art collector and political patron (born 1910) Read more
• 2013 — William B. Caldwell III, American general (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — Lawrence Fuchs, American scholar and academic (born 1927) Read more
• 2013 — A.B.C. Whipple, American journalist and historian (born 1918) Read more
• 2012 — Shenouda III, pope of Alexandria (born 1923) Read more
• 2012 — Margaret Whitlam, Australian swimmer and author (born 1919) Read more
• 2011 — Michael Gough, English actor (born 1916) Read more
• 2011 — Ferlin Husky, American country music singer (born 1925) Read more
• 2010 — Alex Chilton, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1950) Read more
• 2010 — Sid Fleischman, American author and screenwriter (born 1920) Read more
• 2009 — Clodovil Hernandes, Brazilian television host and politician (born 1937) Read more
• 2008 — Roland Arnall, French-American businessman and diplomat, 63rd United States Ambassador to the Netherlands (born 1939) Read more
• 2007 — John Backus, American mathematician and computer scientist, designed Fortran (born 1924) Read more
• 2006 — Oleg Cassini, French-American fashion designer (born 1913) Read more
• 2006 — Ray Meyer, American basketball player and coach (born 1913) Read more
• 2006 — İstemihan Taviloğlu, Turkish composer and educator (born 1945) Read more
• 2005 — Royce Frith, Canadian lawyer, politician, and diplomat, Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (born 1923) Read more
• 2005 — George F. Kennan, American historian and diplomat, United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union (born 1904) Read more
• 2005 — Andre Norton, American author (born 1912) Read more
• 2002 — Rosetta LeNoire, American actress and producer (born 1911) Read more
• 2002 — Văn Tiến Dũng, Vietnamese general and politician, 6th Minister of Defence for Vietnam (born 1917) Read more
• 2002 — Sylvester "Pat" Weaver, American television broadcaster and producer (born 1908) Read more
• 2001 — Anthony Storr, English psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and author (born 1920) Read more
• 1999 — Ernest Gold, Austrian-American composer (born 1921) Read more
• 1999 — Jean Pierre-Bloch, French activist (born 1905) Read more
• 1997 — Jermaine Stewart, American singer-songwriter and dancer (born 1957) Read more
• 1996 — René Clément, French director and screenwriter (born 1913) Read more
• 1996 — Terry Stafford, American singer-songwriter (born 1941) Read more
• 1995 — Sunnyland Slim, American blues pianist (born 1906) Read more

Holidays & observances

Birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bangladesh); Children's Day (Bangladesh); Christian feast day: Alexius of Rome (Eastern Church); Christian feast day: Gertrude of Nivelles; Christian feast day: John Sarkander; Christian feast day: Joseph of Arimathea (Western Church); Christian feast day: Patrick of Ireland; Christian feast day: March 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Evacuation Day (Suffolk County, Massachusetts); Saint Patrick's Day, a public holiday in Ireland, Montserrat and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, widely celebrated in the English-speaking world and to a lesser degree in other parts of the world.

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