17 March

March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 289 days remain until the end of the year.

We have some interesting facts & historic events all about March 17^th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about March 17^th in history!

Table of Contents

1. Global Celebrations
2. Historic Events
3. Famous Birthdays
4. Heartbreaking Deaths

Global Celebrations

• Saint Patrick Day.

Historic Events

What Happened On This Day – March 17

1992: Apartheid in South Africa comes to an end

In a referendum, 68.7% of white South Africans voted for an abolishment of racial segregation in the country.

1973: The photograph known as Burst of joy is taken

Photographer Slava Veder was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the image depicting a former U.S. prisoner of war being reunited with his family.

1969: Golda Meir becomes Israel’s first female Prime Minister

In her country, Meir was known as the “Iron Lady” long before British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher rose to power.

1959: The Dalai Lama flees Tibet for India

Followers and advisers of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, feared for his life after a revolt had erupted in Lhasa against the Chinese.

1941: The National Gallery of Art opens in Washington. D.C.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the gallery, which today houses one of the world’s finest art collections.

1941: A British couple sleeps inside a “Morrison shelter” used as protection from collapsing homes during the WWII ‘Blitz’ bombing raids… March 1941 –

1905: Albert Einstein finishes his scientific paper detailing his Quantum Theory of Light, one of the foundations of modern physics.

1521: Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Philippines in 1521.

45 BC: Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger in the Battle of Munda in 45 BC.

Famous Birthdays

Births On This Day, March 17

1967: Billy Corgan, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer

1948: William Gibson, American/Canadian author

1919: Nat King Cole, American singer, pianist, television host

1883: Urmuz, Romanian judge, author

1834: Gottlieb Daimler, German engineer, businessman, co-founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft

Kalpana Chawla was born.

Saina Nehwal was born.

Sekh Mujibur Rahman was born.

Heartbreaking Deaths

Deaths On This Day, March 17

2006: Oleg Cassini, French/American fashion designer

2005: George F. Kennan, American historian, diplomat, United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union

1956: Fred Allen, American comedian, actor, radio host

460: Saint Patrick, Irish missionary, bishop

180: Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor

Marcus Aurelius died.

Saint Patrick died.

Napoleon Louis Bonaparte died.