On This Day in History — November 17

Highlights of November 17

• 2013 — An outbreak of 77 confirmed tornadoes occurred in seven U.S. states; it became the largest November tornado outbreak in Illinois and Indiana. Read more
• 2013 — Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 crashed during an aborted landing at Kazan International Airport, Russia, killing all 50 people on board and leading to the revocation of the airline's operating certificate. Read more
• 2009 — Administrators at the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit discovered that their servers had been hacked, and thousands of emails and files on climate change had been stolen. Read more
• 1997 — Sixty-two people were killed by Islamist terrorists outside Deir el-Bahari (temple pictured) in Luxor, one of Egypt's top tourist attractions. Read more
• 1989 — Walt Disney Pictures released The Little Mermaid to theatres, beginning the Disney Renaissance. Read more
• 1968 — NBC controversially cut away from an American football game between the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets to broadcast Heidi, causing viewers in the Eastern United States to miss the game's dramatic ending. Read more
• 1950 — The 14th Dalai Lama (pictured) assumed full temporal power as ruler of Tibet at the age of 15. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: Australian forces launched an assault on Sattelberg, New Guinea, against Japanese forces, initiating the Battle of Sattelberg. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: Hjalmar Siilasvuo ordered Finnish forces to halt their assault against Soviet forces near Salla, concluding Operation Arctic Fox. Read more
• 1921 — Rioting broke out in Bombay, India, during the visit of Edward, Prince of Wales, leading to at least 58 deaths. Read more
• 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: French forces won the Battle of Arcole in a manoeuvre to cut the Austrians' line of retreat. Read more
• 1592 — Sigismund III Vasa, who was already King of Poland, succeeded his father John III as King of Sweden. Read more
• 1558 — Elizabeth I became Queen of England and of Ireland, marking the beginning of the Elizabethan era. Read more
• 1292 — John Balliol was chosen to be King of Scots over Robert de Brus. Read more

Events

• 2019 — The first known case of COVID-19 is traced to a 55-year-old man who had visited a market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Read more
• 2013 — Fifty people are killed when Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 crashes at Kazan Airport, Russia. Read more
• 2013 — A rare late-season tornado outbreak strikes the Midwest. Illinois and Indiana are most affected with tornado reports as far north as lower Michigan. In all around six dozen tornadoes touch down in approximately an 11-hour time period, including seven EF3 and two EF4 tornadoes. Read more
• 2012 — At least 50 schoolchildren are killed in an accident at a railway crossing near Manfalut, Egypt. Read more
• 2003 — Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's tenure as the governor of California begins. Read more
• 2000 — A catastrophic landslide in Log pod Mangartom, Slovenia, kills seven, and causes millions of SIT of damage. It is one of the worst catastrophes in Slovenia in the past 100 years. Read more
• 2000 — Alberto Fujimori is removed from office as president of Peru. Read more
• 1997 — In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by six Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Luxor massacre. Read more
• 1993 — United States House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish the North American Free Trade Agreement. Read more
• 1993 — In Nigeria, General Sani Abacha ousts the government of Ernest Shonekan in a military coup. Read more
• 1990 — Fugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, becomes active again and erupts. Read more
• 1989 — Cold War: Velvet Revolution begins: In Czechoslovakia, a student demonstration in Prague is quelled by riot police. This sparks an uprising aimed at overthrowing the communist government (it succeeds on December 29). Read more
• 1986 — The flight crew of Japan Airlines Flight 1628 are involved in a UFO sighting incident while flying over Alaska. Read more
• 1983 — The Zapatista Army of National Liberation is founded in Mexico. Read more
• 1973 — Watergate scandal: In Orlando, Florida, U.S. President Richard Nixon tells 400 Associated Press managing editors "I am not a crook." Read more
• 1973 — The Athens Polytechnic uprising against the military regime ends in a bloodshed in the Greek capital. Read more
• 1970 — Vietnam War: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai Massacre. Read more
• 1970 — Luna programme: The Soviet Union lands Lunokhod 1 on Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) on the Moon. This is the first roving remote-controlled robot to land on another world and is released by the orbiting Luna 17 spacecraft. Read more
• 1969 — Cold War: Negotiators from the Soviet Union and the United States meet in Helsinki, Finland to begin SALT I negotiations aimed at limiting the number of strategic weapons on both sides. Read more
• 1968 — British European Airways introduces the BAC One-Eleven into commercial service. Read more
• 1968 — Viewers of the Raiders–Jets football game in the eastern United States are denied the opportunity to watch its exciting finish when NBC broadcasts Heidi instead, prompting changes to sports broadcasting in the U.S. Read more
• 1967 — Vietnam War: Acting on optimistic reports that he had been given on November 13, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson tells the nation that, while much remained to be done, "We are inflicting greater losses than we're taking...We are making progress." Read more
• 1962 — President John F. Kennedy dedicates Washington Dulles International Airport, serving the Washington, D.C., region. Read more
• 1957 — Vickers Viscount G-AOHP of British European Airways crashes at Ballerup after the failure of three engines on approach to Copenhagen Airport. The cause is a malfunction of the anti-icing system on the aircraft. There are no fatalities. Read more
• 1953 — The remaining human inhabitants of the Blasket Islands, County Kerry, Ireland, are evacuated to the mainland. Read more
• 1950 — Lhamo Dondrub is officially named the 14th Dalai Lama. Read more
• 1950 — United Nations Security Council Resolution 89 relating to the Palestine Question is adopted. Read more
• 1947 — The Screen Actors Guild implements an anti-Communist loyalty oath. Read more
• 1947 — American scientists John Bardeen and Walter Houser Brattain observe the basic principles of the transistor, a key element for the electronics revolution of the 20th century. Read more
• 1940 — The Tartu Art Museum is established in Tartu, Estonia. Read more
• 1939 — Nine Czech students are executed as a response to anti-Nazi demonstrations prompted by the death of Jan Opletal. All Czech universities are shut down and more than 1,200 students sent to concentration camps. Since this event, International Students' Day is celebrated in many countries, especially in the Czech Republic. Read more
• 1903 — The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party splits into two groups: The Bolsheviks (Russian for "majority") and Mensheviks (Russian for "minority"). Read more
• 1896 — The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, which later became the first ice hockey league to openly trade and hire players, began play at Pittsburgh's Schenley Park Casino. Read more
• 1894 — H. H. Holmes, one of the first modern serial killers, is arrested in Boston, Massachusetts. Read more
• 1885 — Serbo-Bulgarian War: The decisive Battle of Slivnitsa begins. Read more
• 1878 — First assassination attempt against Umberto I of Italy by anarchist Giovanni Passannante, who was armed with a dagger. The King survived with a slight wound in an arm. Prime Minister Benedetto Cairoli blocked the aggressor, receiving an injury in a leg. Read more
• 1869 — In Egypt, the Suez Canal, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, is inaugurated. Read more
• 1863 — American Civil War: Siege of Knoxville begins: During the Knoxville campaign, Confederate forces under General James Longstreet besiege the city of Knoxville, Tennessee and its Union defenders led by General Ambrose Burnside. Read more
• 1858 — Modified Julian Day zero. Read more
• 1858 — The city of Denver, Colorado is founded. Read more
• 1856 — American Old West: On the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona, the United States Army establishes Fort Buchanan in order to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase. Read more
• 1837 — An earthquake in Valdivia, south-central Chile, causes a tsunami that leads to significant destruction along Japan's coast. Read more
• 1831 — Ecuador and Venezuela are separated from Gran Colombia. Read more
• 1820 — Captain Nathaniel Palmer becomes the first American to see Antarctica. (The Palmer Peninsula is later named after him.) Read more
• 1811 — José Miguel Carrera, Chilean founding father, is sworn in as President of the executive Junta of the government of Chile. Read more
• 1810 — Sweden declares war on its ally the United Kingdom to begin the Anglo-Swedish War, although no fighting ever takes place. Read more
• 1800 — The United States Congress holds its first session in Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of the Bridge of Arcole: French forces defeat the Austrians in Italy. Read more
• 1777 — Articles of Confederation (United States) are submitted to the states for ratification. Read more
• 1775 — The city of Kuopio, Finland (belonging to Sweden at this time) is founded by King Gustav III of Sweden. Read more
• 1603 — English explorer, writer and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh goes on trial for treason. Read more
• 1558 — Elizabethan era begins: Queen Mary I of England dies and is succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I. Read more
• 1511 — Henry VIII of England concludes the Treaty of Westminster, a pledge of mutual aid against the French, with Ferdinand II of Aragon. Read more
• 1494 — French King Charles VIII occupies Florence, Italy. Read more
• 1405 — Sharif ul-Hāshim establishes the Sultanate of Sulu. Read more
• 1292 — John Balliol becomes King of Scotland. Read more
• 1183 — Genpei War: The Battle of Mizushima takes place off the Japanese coast, where Minamoto no Yoshinaka's invasion force is intercepted and defeated by the Taira clan. Read more
• 887 — Emperor Charles the Fat is deposed by the Frankish magnates in an assembly at Frankfurt, leading his nephew, Arnulf of Carinthia, to declare himself king of the East Frankish Kingdom in late November. Read more

Born on November 17

• 2005 — Anna Tanaka, Japanese singer and model Read more
• 2004 — Linda Nosková, Czech tennis player Read more
• 2001 — Kate Douglass, American swimmer Read more
• 2000 — Joanne Züger, Swiss tennis player Read more
• 1999 — Gabi Gonçalves, Brazilian politician Read more
• 1997 — Dragan Bender, Croatian basketball player Read more
• 1997 — Julian Ryerson, Norwegian footballer Read more
• 1997 — Yugyeom, South Korean singer Read more
• 1996 — Minkah Fitzpatrick, American football player Read more
• 1996 — Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1996 — Roope Hintz, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
• 1995 — Elise Mertens, Belgian tennis player Read more
• 1995 — Panashe Muzambe, Scottish rugby union player Read more
• 1994 — Raquel Castro, American actress and singer Read more
• 1994 — Rose Ayling-Ellis, British actress Read more
• 1993 — Taylor Gold, American snowboarder Read more
• 1992 — Damiris Dantas, Brazilian basketball player Read more
• 1992 — Katarzyna Kawa, Polish tennis player Read more
• 1992 — Danielle Kettlewell, Australian synchronised swimmer Read more
• 1990 — Elías Díaz, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
• 1989 — Ryan Griffin, American football player Read more
• 1989 — Seth Lugo, American baseball player Read more
• 1989 — Roman Zozulya, Ukrainian footballer Read more
• 1988 — Justin Cooper, American actor Read more
• 1987 — Justine Michelle Cain, English actress Read more
• 1987 — Craig Noone, English footballer Read more
• 1987 — Gemma Spofforth, English swimmer Read more
• 1986 — Everth Cabrera, Nicaraguan baseball player Read more
• 1986 — Fabio Concas, Italian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Aaron Finch, Australian cricketer Read more
• 1986 — Nani, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1986 — Greg Rutherford, English long jumper Read more
• 1985 — Luis Aguiar, Uruguayan footballer Read more
• 1985 — Sékou Camara, Malian footballer (died 2013) Read more
• 1985 — Carolina Neurath, Swedish journalist Read more
• 1984 — Amanda Evora, American figure skater Read more
• 1984 — Park Han-byul, South Korean model and actress Read more
• 1983 — Viva Bianca, Australian actress, producer, and screenwriter Read more
• 1983 — Ioannis Bourousis, Greek basketball player Read more
• 1983 — Ryan Bradley, American figure skater Read more

Died on November 17

• 2024 — Macoto Takahashi, Japanese manga artist (born 1934) Read more
• 2021 — Young Dolph, American rapper (born 1985) Read more
• 2019 — Tuka Rocha, Brazilian race car driver (born 1982) Read more
• 2015 — John Leahy, English lawyer and diplomat, High Commissioner to Australia (born 1928) Read more
• 2015 — Rahim Moeini Kermanshahi, Iranian poet and songwriter (born 1926) Read more
• 2014 — John T. Downey, American CIA agent and judge (born 1930) Read more
• 2014 — Bill Frenzel, American lieutenant and politician (born 1928) Read more
• 2014 — Ray Sadecki, American baseball player (born 1940) Read more
• 2014 — Patrick Suppes, American psychologist and philosopher (born 1922) Read more
• 2013 — Zeke Bella, American baseball player (born 1930) Read more
• 2013 — Alfred Blake, English colonel and lawyer (born 1915) Read more
• 2013 — Syd Field, American screenwriter and producer (born 1935) Read more
• 2013 — Doris Lessing, British novelist, poet, playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1919) Read more
• 2013 — Alex Marques, Portuguese footballer (born 1993) Read more
• 2013 — Mary Nesbitt Wisham, American baseball player (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — Ponty Chadha, Indian businessman and philanthropist (born 1957) Read more
• 2012 — Armand Desmet, Belgian cyclist (born 1931) Read more
• 2012 — Lea Gottlieb, Hungarian-Israeli fashion designer, founded the Gottex Company (born 1918) Read more
• 2012 — Freddy Schmidt, American baseball player (born 1916) Read more
• 2012 — Billy Scott, American singer-songwriter (born 1942) Read more
• 2012 — Bal Thackeray, Indian cartoonist and politician (born 1926) Read more
• 2012 — Margaret Yorke, English author (born 1924) Read more
• 2011 — Kurt Budke, American basketball player and coach (born 1961) Read more
• 2008 — George Stephen Morrison, American admiral (born 1919) Read more
• 2008 — Pete Newell, American basketball player and coach (born 1915) Read more
• 2007 — Aarne Hermlin, Estonian chess player (born 1940) Read more
• 2006 — Ruth Brown, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1928) Read more
• 2006 — Ferenc Puskás, Hungarian footballer and manager (born 1927) Read more
• 2006 — Bo Schembechler, American football player and coach (born 1929) Read more
• 2005 — Marek Perepeczko, Polish actor and director (born 1942) Read more
• 2004 — Mikael Ljungberg, Swedish wrestler and manager (born 1970) Read more
• 2004 — Alexander Ragulin, Russian ice hockey player (born 1941) Read more
• 2003 — Surjit Bindrakhia, Indian singer (born 1962) Read more
• 2003 — Arthur Conley, American-Dutch singer-songwriter (born 1946) Read more
• 2002 — Abba Eban, South African-Israeli soldier and politician, third Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1915) Read more
• 2002 — Frank McCarthy, American painter and illustrator (born 1924) Read more
• 2001 — Michael Karoli, German guitarist and songwriter (born 1948) Read more
• 2001 — Harrison A. Williams, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician (born 1919) Read more
• 2000 — Louis Néel, French physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1904) Read more
• 1998 — Kea Bouman, Dutch tennis player (born 1903) Read more

Holidays & observances

Athens Polytechnic Uprising Remembrance Day (Greece); Christian feast days: Acisclus; Christian feast days: Aignan of Orleans; Christian feast days: Elizabeth of Hungary; Christian feast days: Gennadius of Constantinople (Greek Orthodox Church); Christian feast days: Gregory of Tours (Roman Catholic Church); Christian feast days: Gregory Thaumaturgus; Christian feast days: Hilda of Whitby; Christian feast days: Hugh of Lincoln; Christian feast days: November 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); International Students' Day; Martyrs' Day (Odisha, India); Presidents Day (Marshall Islands)

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