On This Day in History — May 17

Highlights of May 17

• 2014 — A military plane crash killed 17 people and left one survivor in northern Laos. Read more
• 2004 — Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. Read more
• 2000 — Following the killing of two English football fans by Galatasaray supporters in the previous month, British and Turkish hooligans rioted on the day of the UEFA Cup Final in Copenhagen, Denmark. Read more
• 1997 — The First Congo War came to an end when Laurent-Désiré Kabila proclaimed himself president of Zaire, which was also renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Read more
• 1995 — Six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama selected by the 14th Dalai Lama, was kidnapped by the Chinese government, who advocated a proxy. Read more
• 1987 — An Iraqi jet fired two Exocet missiles at the American frigate USS Stark, killing 37 personnel and injuring 21 others. Read more
• 1974 — The Troubles: The Ulster Volunteer Force detonated a series of car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan, Ireland, killing 34 people and injuring almost 300 others. Read more
• 1954 — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, outlawing racial segregation in public schools because "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and therefore unconstitutional. Read more
• 1947 — After renegotiating a contract with the makers of her signature perfume Chanel No. 5, Coco Chanel (pictured) received a share of wartime profits from its sale, making her one of the richest women in the world. Read more
• 1914 — Under the Protocol of Corfu, the Principality of Albania officially recognized Northern Epirus as an autonomous self-governing region. Read more
• 1902 — The Antikythera mechanism, the oldest known surviving geared mechanism, was discovered among artifacts retrieved from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera. Read more
• 1900 — The first copies of the children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum were printed. Read more
• 1900 — Second Boer War: The Siege of Mafeking in South Africa was lifted after 217 days, a decisive victory for the British against the Boers. Read more
• 1890 — The opera Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, premieres at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, beginning the verismo period in Italian opera. Read more
• 1865 — The International Telecommunication Union, which standardizes and regulates international radio and telecommunications, was founded as the International Telegraph Union in Paris. Read more
• 1863 — American Civil War: At the Battle of Big Black River Bridge in Mississippi, Union forces under John A. McClernand defeated a Confederate rearguard and captured around 1,700 men. Read more
• 1590 — Anne of Denmark (pictured) was crowned the queen consort of Scotland in a ceremony at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh. Read more
• 1521 — Edward Stafford (pictured), whose father had been beheaded for rebelling against King Richard III of England, was himself executed for treason against King Henry VIII. Read more
• 1395 — An outnumbered Wallachian army repulsed invading Ottoman forces at the Battle of Rovine. Read more

Events

• 2014 — A military plane crash in northern Laos kills 17 people. Read more
• 2010 — Pamir Airways Flight 112 crashes in Afghanistan's Shakardara District, killing 44. Read more
• 2007 — Trains from North and South Korea cross the 38th Parallel in a test-run agreed by both governments. This is the first time that trains have crossed the Demilitarized Zone since 1953. Read more
• 2006 — The aircraft carrier USS Oriskany is sunk in the Gulf of Mexico as an artificial reef. Read more
• 2004 — The first legal same-sex marriages in the U.S. are performed in the state of Massachusetts. Read more
• 2000 — Arsenal and Galatasaray fans clash in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final riots in Copenhagen. Read more
• 1997 — Troops of Laurent-Désiré Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. Read more
• 1995 — Shawn Nelson steals an M60 tank from the California Army National Guard Armory in San Diego and proceeds to go on a rampage. Read more
• 1994 — Malawi holds its first multi-party elections. Read more
• 1992 — Three days of popular protests against the government of Prime Minister of Thailand Suchinda Kraprayoon begin in Bangkok, leading to a military crackdown that results in 52 officially confirmed deaths, hundreds of injuries, many disappearances, and more than 3,500 arrests. Read more
• 1990 — The General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) eliminates homosexuality from the list of psychiatric diseases. Read more
• 1987 — Iran–Iraq War: An Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 fighter jet fires two missiles into the U.S. Navy warship USS Stark, killing 37 and injuring 21 of her crew. Read more
• 1984 — Prince Charles calls a proposed addition to the National Gallery, London, a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend", sparking controversies on the proper role of the Royal Family and the course of modern architecture. Read more
• 1983 — The U.S. Department of Energy declassifies documents showing world's largest mercury pollution event in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (ultimately found to be 4.2 million pounds [1.9 kt]), in response to the Appalachian Observer's Freedom of Information Act request. Read more
• 1983 — Lebanon, Israel, and the United States sign an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. Read more
• 1980 — General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea seizes control of the government and declares martial law in order to suppress student demonstrations. Read more
• 1980 — On the eve of presidential elections, Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path attacks a polling location in Chuschi (a town in Ayacucho), starting the Internal conflict in Peru. Read more
• 1980 — Rioting breaks out in downtown Miami, following the acquittal of four white police officers in the killing of Arthur McDuffie, a black insurance salesman. Read more
• 1977 — Nolan Bushnell opens the first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (later renamed Chuck E. Cheese) in San Jose, California. Read more
• 1974 — The Troubles: Thirty-three civilians are killed and 300 injured when the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) detonates four car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan, Ireland. Read more
• 1974 — Police in Los Angeles raid the Symbionese Liberation Army's headquarters, killing six members, including Camilla Hall. Read more
• 1973 — Watergate scandal: Televised hearings begin in the United States Senate. Read more
• 1969 — Venera program: Soviet Venera 6 begins its descent into the atmosphere of Venus, sending back atmospheric data before being crushed by pressure. Read more
• 1967 — Six-Day War: President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt demands dismantling of the peace-keeping UN Emergency Force in Egypt. Read more
• 1959 — In Cuba, the First Agrarian Reform Law – a cornerstone of the Cuban Revolution – is signed by Fidel Castro, aiming to eliminate large foreign-owned estates and redistribute land to over 100,000 peasants. Read more
• 1954 — The United States Supreme Court hands down a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, outlawing racial segregation in public schools. Read more
• 1953 — Delta Air Lines Flight 318 crashes near Marshall, Texas, killing 19. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: Dambuster Raids commence by No. 617 Squadron RAF. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium. Read more
• 1939 — The Columbia Lions and the Princeton Tigers play in the United States' first televised sporting event, a collegiate baseball game in New York City. Read more
• 1937 — Spanish Civil War: The Largo Caballero government resigns in the wake of the Barcelona May Days, leading Juan Negrín to form a government, without the anarcho-syndicalist CNT, in its stead. Read more
• 1933 — Vidkun Quisling and Johan Bernhard Hjort form Nasjonal Samling — the national-socialist party of Norway. Read more
• 1915 — The last British Liberal Party government (led by H. H. Asquith) falls. Read more
• 1914 — The Protocol of Corfu is signed, recognising full autonomy to Northern Epirus under nominal Albanian sovereignty. Read more
• 1902 — Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais discovers the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical analog computer. Read more
• 1900 — The children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, is first published in the United States. The first copy is given to the author's sister. Read more
• 1875 — Aristides wins the first Kentucky Derby with the jockey Oliver Lewis (2:37.75). Read more
• 1865 — The International Telegraph Union (later the International Telecommunication Union) is established in Paris. Read more
• 1863 — Rosalía de Castro publishes Cantares Gallegos, the first book in the Galician language. Read more
• 1863 — American Civil War: During the Vicksburg campaign, Union forces under John A. McClernand defeat a Confederate rearguard and capture around 1,700 men at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge. Read more
• 1859 — Members of the Melbourne Football Club codify the first rules of Australian rules football. Read more
• 1814 — Occupation of Monaco changes from French to Austrian. Read more
• 1814 — The Constitution of Norway is signed and Crown Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark is elected King of Norway by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly. Read more
• 1809 — Emperor Napoleon I orders the annexation of the Papal States to the French Empire. Read more
• 1805 — Muhammad Ali becomes Wāli of Egypt. Read more
• 1792 — The New York Stock Exchange is formed under the Buttonwood Agreement. Read more
• 1760 — French forces besieging Quebec retreat after the Royal Navy arrives to relieve the British garrison. Read more
• 1756 — Seven Years' War formally begins when Great Britain declares war on France. Read more
• 1673 — Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette begin exploring the Mississippi River. Read more
• 1648 — An allied French and Swedish army defeats Imperial and Bavarian forces in the Battle of Zusmarshausen. Read more
• 1642 — Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve founds the Ville Marie de Montréal. Read more
• 1639 — The treaty of Zuhab ends the fifteen-year-long war between the Ottomans and the Safavids. Read more
• 1590 — Anne of Denmark is crowned Queen of Scotland. Read more
• 1536 — George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford and four other men are executed for treason. Read more
• 1536 — Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn's marriage is annulled. Read more
• 1527 — Pánfilo de Narváez departs Spain to explore Florida with 600 men – by 1536 only four survive. Read more
• 1521 — Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason. Read more
• 1395 — Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army. Read more
• 884 — Election of Pope Hadrian III following the death of Pope Marinus I earlier that month. Read more
• 352 — Election of Pope Liberius following the death of Pope Julius I in the previous month. Read more

Born on May 17

• 1994 — Julie Anne San Jose, Filipina singer-songwriter Read more
• 1991 — Johanna Konta, Australian-English tennis player Read more
• 1991 — Adil Omar, Pakistani rapper and music producer Read more
• 1991 — Abigail Raye, Canadian field hockey player Read more
• 1990 — Will Clyburn, American basketball player Read more
• 1990 — Fabian Giefer, German footballer Read more
• 1990 — Charlie Gubb, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
• 1990 — Katrina Hart, English runner Read more
• 1990 — Guido Pella, Argentine tennis player Read more
• 1989 — Mose Masoe, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
• 1989 — Rain Raadik, Estonian basketball player Read more
• 1989 — Tessa Virtue, Canadian ice dancer Read more
• 1988 — Nikki Reed, American actress, singer, and screenwriter Read more
• 1987 — Edvald Boasson Hagen, Norwegian cyclist Read more
• 1987 — Aleandro Rosi, Italian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Marius Činikas, Lithuanian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Timo Simonlatser, Estonian skier Read more
• 1986 — Jodie Taylor, English footballer Read more
• 1985 — Teófilo Gutiérrez, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Derek Hough, American actor, singer, and dancer Read more
• 1985 — Christine Nesbitt, Canadian speed skater Read more
• 1985 — Todd Redmond, American baseball player Read more
• 1985 — Matt Ryan, American football player Read more
• 1984 — Christian Bolaños, Costa Rican footballer Read more
• 1984 — Christine Ohuruogu, English runner Read more
• 1984 — Christine Robinson, Canadian water polo player Read more
• 1984 — Passenger, English singer-songwriter and musician Read more
• 1983 — Ifeanyi Chiejine, Nigerian footballer (died 2019) Read more
• 1983 — Channing Frye, American basketball player Read more
• 1983 — Chris Henry, American football player (died 2009) Read more
• 1983 — Nicky Hofs, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1983 — Kevin Kingston, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1983 — Danniel Librelon, Brazilian politician Read more
• 1983 — Jeremy Sowers, American baseball player Read more
• 1982 — Matt Cassel, American football player Read more
• 1982 — Dan Hardy, English mixed martial artist Read more
• 1982 — Reiko Nakamura, Japanese swimmer Read more
• 1982 — Tony Parker, French-American basketball player Read more
• 1982 — Chloe Smith, English politician Read more
• 1981 — Beñat Albizuri, Spanish cyclist Read more

Died on May 17

• 2026 — M. J. K. Smith, English cricketer and rugby union player (born 1933) Read more
• 2024 — Bud Anderson, American World War II flying ace (born 1922) Read more
• 2024 — Sid Going, New Zealand rugby union footballer (born 1943) Read more
• 2022 — Vangelis, Greek musician, composer (born 1943) Read more
• 2020 — Lucky Peterson, American blues singer, keyboardist and guitarist (born 1964) Read more
• 2019 — Herman Wouk, American author (born 1915) Read more
• 2017 — Todor Veselinović, Serbian football player and manager (born 1930) Read more
• 2015 — Lionel Pickens, American rapper (born 1983) Read more
• 2014 — Gerald Edelman, American biologist and immunologist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1929) Read more
• 2014 — C. P. Krishnan Nair, Indian businessman, founded The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts (born 1922) Read more
• 2014 — Douangchay Phichit, Laotian politician (born 1944) Read more
• 2014 — Thongbanh Sengaphone, Laotian politician (born 1953) Read more
• 2013 — Philippe Gaumont, French cyclist (born 1973) Read more
• 2013 — Peter Schulz, German politician, Mayor of Hamburg (born 1930) Read more
• 2013 — Ken Venturi, American golfer and sportscaster (born 1931) Read more
• 2013 — Jorge Rafael Videla, Argentine Commander in Chief and dictator (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — Gideon Ezra, Israeli geographer and politician, Israeli Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (born 1937) Read more
• 2012 — Patrick Mafisango, Congolese-Rwandan footballer (born 1980) Read more
• 2012 — Donna Summer, American singer-songwriter (born 1948) Read more
• 2011 — Harmon Killebrew, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1936) Read more
• 2010 — Yvonne Loriod, French pianist, composer, and educator (born 1924) Read more
• 2010 — Walasse Ting, Chinese-American painter and poet (born 1929) Read more
• 2009 — Mario Benedetti, Uruguayan journalist, author, and poet (born 1920) Read more
• 2009 — Jung Seung-hye, South Korean journalist and producer (born 1965) Read more
• 2007 — Lloyd Alexander, American soldier and author (born 1924) Read more
• 2007 — T. K. Doraiswamy, Indian poet and author (born 1921) Read more
• 2006 — Cy Feuer, American director, producer, and composer (born 1911) Read more
• 2005 — Frank Gorshin, American actor (born 1934) Read more
• 2004 — Jørgen Nash, Danish poet and painter (born 1920) Read more
• 2004 — Tony Randall, American actor (born 1920) Read more
• 2004 — Ezzedine Salim, Iraqi politician (born 1943) Read more
• 2002 — László Kubala, Hungarian-Spanish footballer, coach, and manager (born 1927) Read more
• 2002 — Aşık Mahzuni Şerif, Turkish poet and composer (born 1940) Read more
• 2001 — Jacques-Louis Lions, French mathematician (born 1928) Read more
• 2001 — Frank G. Slaughter, American physician and author (born 1908) Read more
• 2000 — Donald Coggan, English archbishop (born 1909) Read more
• 1999 — Bruce Fairbairn, Canadian trumpet player and producer (born 1949) Read more
• 1999 — Lembit Oll, Estonian chess Grandmaster (born 1966) Read more
• 1996 — Kevin Gilbert, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1966) Read more
• 1995 — Toe Blake, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1912) Read more

Holidays & observances

Birthday of the Raja (Perlis); Christian feast day: Giulia Salzano; Christian feast day: Blessed Ivan Ziatyk; Christian feast day: Paschal Baylon; Christian feast day: Peter Lieou; Christian feast day: William Hobart Hare (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day: Restituta; Christian feast day: May 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Children's Day (Norway); Constitution Day (Nauru); Constitution Day (Norway); Feast of ‘Aẓamat (Baháʼí Faith, day shifts with March Equinox, see List of observances set by the Baháʼí calendar); Galician Literature Day or Día das Letras Galegas (Galicia); International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia; Liberation Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo); Navy Day (Argentina); World Hypertension Day; World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (International)

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